Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail plea of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, arrested on allegation of sexually assaulting a minor girl. In what could add to the troubles of the spiritual guru, the prosecution lawyer claimed during the proceedings that Asaram is a paedophile (a person who is sexually attracted to children). Asaram, 72, had filed a bail application before the Jodhpur bench of the high court on September 13.
The bail application first came up for hearing on September 16 and since the arguments remained inconclusive, the high court put off the proceedings till September 18 and then decided to hear his bail plea on October 01. Senior counsel Ram Jethmalani had appeared for Asaram in the court on September 18. Asaram is lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since September 02. The spiritual guru was presented before court of the district and sessions judge (Jodhpur rural) on September 30. The court extended his judicial custody till October 11. A 16-year-old girl on August 20 lodged a police complaint, accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur. Asaram was arrested from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh and brought to Jodhpur on September 01.
Bureau Report
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