JODHPUR: Self-styled godman Asaram has been convicted of raping a teenage girl at his ashram in 2013. A teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the godman’s ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, had levelled charges of rape against Asaram. (Watch live streaming of Asaram case verdict on). The self-styled godman had, however, denied the rape charges.
Ahead of the pronouncement of the verdict in the above cases, here is a timeline of the developments so far:
Reacting to the order, the victim’s father said that he has finally got justice. “Asaram is convicted, we have got justice. I want to thank everyone who supported us in this fight. Now I hope he will get strict punishment. I also hope the witnesses who were murdered or kidnapped get justice,” father of Shahjahanpur victim.
The chargesheet against Asaram and four other co-accused Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad and Prakash was filed by the police on November 6, 2013 under various sections of the POSCO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and IPC. A teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the godman’s ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh had levelled allegations against the self-styled godman of raping her. Asaram had, however, denied the rape charges. The victim had alleged that Asaram called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.
Asaram was arrested in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013. He is in judicial custody since September 2, 2013. Final arguments in the Asaram case had been completed by the special court for SC/ST cases on April 7 and the court had kept the order reserved for Wednesday.
Apprehending a threat to law and order, the Centre had asked Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana governments to tighten security and deploy additional forces as the three states have a large number of followers of the 77-year-old Asaram.
The first political reaction has come from Congress leader Ashok Gehlot who said: “The time has come when people should be able to differentiate between the actual saints and the frauds, as this creates a bad image of the country in the international arena.”
The hearing for the quantum of punishment has already begun in court. The defence lawyers are arguing that Asaram should be given minimum punishment and are citing his age as the main reason. It is likely that the sentencing will be announced by the evening today.
As per reports, Asaram has been found guilty of raping a 16-year-old in his Ashram in a 2013 case. Two other accused Sharad and Shilpi have also been held guilty. However, Shiva and Prakash have been acquitted by the court. The victim’s father reacted to the reports saying he has got justice. “Asaram is convicted, we have got justice. I want to thank everyone who supported us in this fight. Now I hope he will get strict punishment. I also hope the witnesses who were murdered or kidnapped get justice,” father of Shahjahanpur victim.
Mahendra Chawla, one of the key witnesses in the Surat rape case against Asaram, is hoping that justice will be meted out in the case. He added that his life is constantly under threat. “Trust the judicary and am I am confident that Asaram will be convicted. I request judiciary that such rapists should be hanged. Though I have security, I request Centre for additional security, my life like other witnesses is constantly under threat,” Chawla said.
Proceedings in the case are underway in the Jodhpur Central Jail premises. Special Judge SC/ST Court Madhusudhan Sharma is in the jail premises to deliver the verdict.
Security has been provided to the family of Akhil Gupta, a witness in the rape case against Asaram Bapu in Surat, who was shot dead in January 2015, ahead of the verdict today. Akhil was returning home from his shop on a scooter when the two motorcycle-borne assailants shot at him on January 11, 2015. Gupta was a cook and personal aide of Asaram, who is in jail since September 2013 in connection with another case of sexual assault on a minor girl in Jodhpur.
Along with Ahmedabad, his ashrams in Varanasi and Bhopal are also seeing Asaram’s followers gather to show their support to the self-styled godman.
Madhya Pradesh: Prayers underway at Asaram’s ashram in Bhopal. #AsaramCaseVerdict
While one supporter of Asaram was detained outside the Central Jail in Jodhpur, several of his followers have gathered at his ashram in Ahmedabad.
The judge is in the make-shirt court made inside the jail premises. Other co-accused Shiva, Shilpi and Sharad have also reached court. Despite being granted bail, a co-accused Prakash is still in jail on the excuse that he doesn’t have the money to pay for the parole.
Both the roads towards the Central jail where Asaram is lodged have been sealed and only mediapersons are allowed outside the jail. Fearing a threat to law and order situation, the Centre has asked Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana governments to tighten security and deploy additional forces as the three states have a large number of followers of the 77-year-old Asaram who faces a minimum term of 10 years if convicted.
Ahead of the verdict, a supporter of Asaram was detained outside the Jodhpur Central Jail where prohibitory orders have been clamped. Asaram’s supporter reached near the jail and tried to put a garland on his poster, but the policemen nabbed him. The poster was put on wall of a corridor outside the jail boundary where the family members of prisoners wait. The supporter managed to reach there despite high-security arrangements.
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