Asaram Bapu Convicted In Another Rape Case; Sentence To Be Announced Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The Additional District Sessions Court at Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Monday convicted self-styled godman Asaram Bapu in a rape case of one of his woman disciples.

Sessions court judge DK Soni reserved its order on the quantum of sentence for Tuesday and acquitted six other accused in the rape case including Asaram’s wife Lakshmiben and daughter Bharati for lack of evidence.

“The court has accepted the prosecution case and convicted Asaram under sections 376 2(C) (rape), 377 (unnatural offences) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code for illegal detention, among others,” the NDTV quoted special public prosecutor RC Kodekar as saying.

Kodekar told the media that the Surat-based victim had registered a case with Surat police, alleging that she was raped by Asaram on several occasions from 2001 to 2006 when she was living at his Motera ashram. The case was later transferred to Ahmedabad police in 2013 and the chargesheet was filed in July 2014.

Chandkheda police had registered a case under various section of the IPC, including rape by one or more in group, common intent, unnatural offence, criminal force on women, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation against 8 persons including Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai.

Asaram is now lodged in Jodhpur jail in another rape case.