Rajasthan HC refuses relief to Asaram, life term in rape case remains intact

The Rajasthan High Court has upheld the life imprisonment awarded to self-styled godman Asaram in the 2013 rape case involving a minor girl at his Jodhpur ashram. The court also acquitted two co-accused, hostel warden Shilpi and sevadar Sharat Chandra, who had earlier been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment by the trial court. Following the High Court order, Asaram will be required to surrender at Jodhpur Central Jail.

Asaram was arrested in August 2013 after a minor student accused him of rape at his ashram in Jodhpur. A special POCSO court convicted him on April 25, 2018, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The two co-accused had been accused of persuading the victim’s parents to bring her to the ashram for treatment and were convicted under gang rape charges before being acquitted by the High Court.

The division bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit delivered the verdict after reserving judgment on April 20 following the completion of final arguments. The bench observed that sufficient direct evidence was not available to substantiate charges related to gang rape and certain provisions under the POCSO Act. However, the court held that the victim’s primary allegations were credible and that the offence of rape could not be ruled out.

Asaram is currently out on interim medical bail, which had earlier been extended till July 7 by the High Court. The court clarified that the interim bail would remain effective either until July 7 or until pronouncement of the reserved verdict on his plea seeking suspension of sentence, whichever occurred earlier. The 86-year-old has repeatedly sought bail citing advanced age and health-related issues.

The case timeline includes the registration of the FIR on August 21, 2013, Asaram’s arrest from Indore on August 31, 2013, and the filing of a 1,021-page chargesheet on November 6, 2013. The Jodhpur Sessions Court awarded life imprisonment in April 2018. In a separate case, Asaram was also sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2023 for the rape of a female devotee at his ashram in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.