Asaram Bapu sentenced to life imprisonment by Jodhpur Trail Court

Self-styled godman Asaram has been sentenced to a life imprisonment by the Jodhpur Trail Court in regard to the 2013 rape case. The 77-year-old was charged for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram and was sent to the Jodhpur Central Jail. The two other convicts in this rape case, Shilpi and Sharat were sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Asaram Bapu was booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) on Wednesday 25th April 2018. The girl who visited one of his ashrams to get cured of her problems,  said in her complaint that she was touched inappropriately by Asaram.

To avoid consequences, Asaram, reportedly, stayed in one of his Ashrams while clashes broke out between his disciples and the policemen. He was, however, arrested by the police on  1st September 2013. His bail pleas were rejected six times since then.

This is not the only case the so-called godman was charged for.  Asaram was also charged in another alleged rape case lodged by two sisters from Gujarat against him and his son Narayan Sai.

A number of key witnesses in the 16-year-old girl rape case were attacked or went missing. It was reported that witnesses and families of the victims received death threats while three of the key witnesses were found dead.