Asaram Rape Case Verdict LIVE: Jodhpur Court sentenced life imprisonment to the 'self-styled Godman'

Jodhpur Court has announced its final verdict on Asaram Bapu today. The court has sentenced life imprisonment for raping a minor girl. The trial court has announced its decision in the courtroom of Jodhpur Central Court. Judge Madhusudan Sharma has announced the jail sentenced on Asaram. Besides Asaram, his two aides also found guilty whereas Shiva and Prakash acquitted.

The two other accused ( Shilpi and Sharad), who also involved in the case have been imprisoned for 20 years. However, some of 77-year-old godman's ashrams have been seized now. 

Asaram was already in jail for 4 years and 7 months. The lawyers of Asaram demanded to reduce the punishment for the accused. Earlier, there were the expectations have been made that either the godman will get the 10-year jail term or life imprisonment. Now the final judgment has been announced by the court after the arguments.

The judgement announced by the court was welcomed by the rape survivor as well as her father. They are very happy with the decision and also thankful to everyone who has supported them in their fight.

The 77-year-old Asaram was charged with rape case of a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The girl was a studying at the godman’s ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. According to the victim, Asaram called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of 15 August 2013. The condition of the girl was proved that she was possessed by the evil. Later, the chargesheets against self-styled godman including four other accused Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad and Prakash were filed by the Police on 6 November 2013 under various sections like POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and IPC.

On April 17, the court had decided to pronounce the verdict against self-styled godman in the rape case in Jodhpur Central Jail’s courtroom to avoid any law and order situation in the state. The decision has been taken by witnessing the condition during the verdict on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. However, the security was also tightened at the house of the victim in Shahajahanpur, UP.

The judgement on Asaram has announced under the tight security in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana, including victim’s house in UP. As per Police officials, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) also have been implemented which prevent the assembly of people at an area. Police also eyed on the vehicle that is entering the city.

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