Self-styled Godman Asaram has been found guilty of the rape of a 16 year old girl in 2013 by the Special Trial Court in Jodhpur. He has been sentenced to Life Imprisonment. Of the five accused, three – including Asaram – have been convicted, while the other two have been acquitted. The 2 other associates of Asaram, namely, Shilpi and Sharad Chand, have, both, been awarded 20 years imprisonment.
Judge Madhusudan Sharma pronounced the verdict from Jodhpur Central Jail, where Asaram is currently lodged, as per the orders of the Rajasthan High Court. Section 144 has been imposed in Jodhpur city. This move was due to the fear of adverse reactions from Asaram’s followers, and a repeat of the violence that followed the verdict in another Self-Styled Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim case last August.
[Source: Indian Express]
