The verdict of high profile case of Godman Asaram Bapu has finally come out. He was charged with rape of 16 year old girl and he was imprisoned since 2013. Along with Asaram, four other people have also been accused. Jodhpur court finally convicted him in rape case. Out of other four accused, two are convicted and other two are acquitted.
The verdict is supposed to come today’s morning. In fact, it is delivered inside the premises of Jodhpur Central Jail in order to avoid any violence by Asaram’s followers. He has given lifetime imprisonment.
What are the charges?
Asaram Bapu is accused of sexually assaulting a minor at his ashram in Manai village, Jodhpur. He is being tried for many other offences like wrongful confinement, rape of a minor girl, rape, outraging the modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation and abetment to an offence.
Since, the time the case began the victim’s family was receiving life threats. In fact, the witnesses and journalists covering the case in the past are also known to have received threats. During these years, nine witnesses have been attacked, out of which three witnessed also lost their lives.
Details about Asaram’s case
The final verdict took years to come. Before that, Asaram’s bail plea has been rejected by Session Court six times. High Court of Rajasthan has rejected his bail plea three times while the Supreme Court has also denied him plea. For him, many big names fought including Ram Jethmalani, Salman Khurshid, KK Menon and Subramanian Swamy. But all have failed in getting bail for Asaram. Talking about the trials, it got completed on March 2018 and the Jodhpur court decided April 25, 2018 as date of judgment.
Situation before in Godman’s case verdict
On the one hand, the victim’s family is demanding for justice and security while on the other hand the followers are praying for their Bapu’s acquittal. Before the proceedings began, there was fear of violence. Asaram has asked his followers to stay calm and not pose as an obstacle to the proceedings. In fact, massive security arrangements have been made out the Jodhpur Central Jail. As anything can be happened in his case, the high security is deployed in neighboring states of Gujarat, Haryana and Maharashtra. After Panchkula riots in Ram Rahim’s case, Rajasthan government has become more cautious.
