Asaram attends rape case trial in Gujarat through video conference

Self-styled godman Asaram, sentenced to life imprisonment by a Rajasthan court recently for raping a minor girl, today attended the trial in another rape case here against him through video conference.

A Surat-based woman had lodged a complaint of rape against him in 2013. Cross-examination of prosecution witnesses in the case is going on before a sessions court in Gandhinagar.

Asaram, who is lodged in a Jodhpur jail, appeared before the court of additional sessions judge Rashida Vora here through video conference, his lawyer Chandrakant Gupta said, adding the judge adjourned the hearing in the case to May 14.

The court has examined 30 witnesses so far. The entire trial is being conducted in-camera, owing to possible threat to the lives of witnesses.

The woman has alleged that Asaram raped her many times when she was living in his ashram in Motera area of Ahmedabad between 1997 and 2006.

The charge sheet also names Asaram's wife Lakshmiben, daughter Bharti Devi and four women followers for alleged abetment of rape. The charges were framed in March 2016.