Jodhpur
A Jodhpur court on Wednesday convicted Asaram, two others in 2013 rape case on all the charges under the POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice Act and sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment. The other two convicts- Shilpi and Sharad, have been awarded a 20-year sentence. Two of the five accused were acquitted by the court. Speaking after the sentencing, Asaram’s spokesperson said that they will review the court’s order and file an appeal in the High Court. In the case registered in Rajasthan, a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh had accused Asaram Bapu of raping her at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur on the night of August 15, 2013. In Gujarat, two Surat-based sisters lodged separate complaints against the self-styled godman and his son Narayan Sai, accusing them of rape.
The charge sheet against Asaram said that he raped a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who had come to study at his ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Asaram has refuted the charges against him. According to the victim, Asaram invited her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013. The charge sheet in the case filed on November 6, 2013 under various sections of the POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, and IPC had also named four accused – Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad, and Prakash. Asaram is also being tried in Surat in Gujarat in a separate rape case, in which the Supreme Court earlier this month said the prosecution should complete the trial in five weeks. During the course of Jodhpur trial, Asaram moved 12 bail applications – six in the trial court, three in the Rajasthan High Court and three in the Supreme Court – but all were rejected.
Asaram sentenced to life in jail
– Jodhpur court convicts Asaram, two others in 2013 rape case on all the charges under the POCSO Act and Juvenile Justice Act. The quantum of sentence has yet not been pronounced.
-Asaram Verdict: Hearing underway, 6 supporters of Asaram detained
– Madhya Pradesh: Prayers underway at Asaram’s ashram in Bhopal.
–Rajasthan: A follower of Asaram who had reached Jodhpur Central Jail with a garland has been detained by Police.
-Security tightened at Jodhpur jail ahead of Asaram Bapu’s case verdict.
Background
The Ministry of Home Affairs had asked the governments in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana to deploy additional forces as it suspected the followers of Asaram, who are in large numbers, might create law and order problems. The MHA wrote to the three states asking them to step up security and make sure no violence is allowed to occur post the judgment today. Keeping in view law and order situation, the Rajasthan High Court had asked the trial court to pronounce its judgment inside the Jodhpur Central Jail premises where Asaram has been lodged for the last more than four years. “We have made all arrangements for the judgment day,” DIG Jail Vikram Singh said. “The magistrate along with court staff, Asaram and the co-accused along with the defence and prosecution counsels will remain present in the courtroom in the jail premises,” he added.
“We have imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the city from April 21 and it would remain effective till April 30. Besides this, we have been keeping a sharp eye on Asaram’s ashrams and checking all hotels and guest houses as well as the bus and railway stations,” DCP (East) Aman Deep Singh said in Jodhpur. “We will also seal the jail on the day of judgment and would not allow anyone to get close to the jail premises,” he added.
Police had also tightened security around the victim’s house in Shahajahanpur. “The security for the victim’s family is continuously being monitored… Two more constables will stand guard outside her house in addition to the five policemen already deployed there, and a strict vigil is being maintained on all the visitors using CCTV cameras,” Superintendent of Police K B Singh was quoted.
Delhi had also been put on high alert in view of the impending verdict. A Delhi Police official said they are keeping a close watch on the city’s borders and inside areas, where Asaram’s supporters might gather after the judgment. The MHA advisory assumes significance considering the large-scale violence witnessed in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh following a Mohali special court verdict convicting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a rape case last year. In the Asaram rape case, the trial court heard final arguments on April 7 and reserved the verdict April 25. Asaram was arrested in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013. He has been in judicial custody ever since.
