Asaram Bapu verdict: Self-styled godman found guilty of rape of teenager in 2013
- Self-styled godman Asaram was today convicted by a court here for raping a teenager at his ashram near here in 2013.
Special Judge (SC/ST court) Madhusudhan Sharma delivered the verdict in the Jodhpur Central jail premises. Further details are awaited.
   Â
The victim had said in her complaint that Asaram called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.
   Â
Final arguments in the case had been completed by the special court for SC/ST cases on April 7, and the court had kept the order reserved for today.
  Â
The 77-year-old Asaram was arrested in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013. He is in judicial custody since September 2, 2013.
  Â
The charge sheet 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.
   Â
Asaram is also facing a rape case in Surat in Gujarat in which the Supreme Court earlier this month gave five weeks time to the prosecution to complete the trial.
  Â
Asaram unsuccessfully moved 12 bail applications, of which six were rejected by the trial court, three by the Rajasthan high court and three by the Supreme Court.Â
Â