Asaram Bapu convicted in 2013 rape case

Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu on Wednesday was convicted of raping a minor girl at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. The verdict was pronounced in the TADA court in the Central Jail with Judge Madhusudan Sharma also convicting two others accused in the case.

Security was tightened at Jodhpur Central Jail apprehending a threat to law and order from his followers. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana have been directed by the Central government to deploy additional forces in a bid to prevent any untoward incidents.

Last year in August, massive-scale of violence broke out in Haryana and neighboring states following the conviction of another self-styled godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, in a rape case.

In 2013, Asaram Bapu was charged with raping a 16-year-old girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Over the course of the trial, he had moved 12 bail applications which turned out to be unsuccessful, six were rejected by the trial court, three by the Rajasthan High Court and three by the Supreme Court.