Asaram Bapu

More than nine years after a former disciple of Asaram Bapu lodged a case of rape against him during her earlier stay in his ashram, a court in Gandhinagar on Monday convicted the self-styled godman and is likely to pronounce the sentence on Tuesday. Sessions court judge DK Soni acquitted six other accused, including Asaram's wife Laxmiben, their daughter, and four disciples who were accused of aiding and abetting the crime, for want of evidence, the prosecution said. Asaram's lawyer said the session court's order will be challenged in the Gujarat High Court. Notably, the victim's younger sister was raped and illegally confined by Asaram's son Narayan Sai. Sai was sentenced to life imprisonment by a sessions court in Surat in April 2019 in the rape case filed against him by his former disciple in 2013. As per the FIR (First Information Report) registered at Chandkheda police station in Ahmedabad on October 6, 2013, against Asaram Bapu and six others, the self-styled godman had rape

The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside the order of the Gujarat High Court

Asaram is seeking a 30-day temporary bail to attend to his ailing wife

Two Surat-based sisters had lodged separate complaints against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai accusing them of rape

In 2013, two Surat-based sisters approached police alleging they were raped by Asaram Bapu and his son Narayan Sai

This comes after Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, was convicted in two rapes cases of 2002

Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur Police on August 31, 2013 and has been in jail since then

The self-styled godman knocked the doors of the apex court seeking bail on health ground

In 2013, a minor girl had alleged Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur

Asaram had earlier knocked the doors of the apex court seeking bail on health grounds

Self proclaimed godman had been accused of raping a minor girl at his ashram in Jodhpur

He was a cook and personal aide of Asaram who has been in jail since August 2013

Asaram has been in jail since August 2013 for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl; arrested after parents lodged complaint

35-year-old Akhil was shot at by unidentified persons on January 11 last year

This was the ninth regular bail application of Asaram to be rejected

There were 59 prosecution witnesses in this case, of which 14 had been dropped while one Amrut Prajapti was shot dead in Surat

The High Court has issued notices to Asaram and other co-accused of the case seeking reply in two weeks

The accused has been booked on charges of cheating and misleading police, besides under Arms Act

Self-styled godman Asaram is at present lodged in Jodhpur jail, where he is facing charges of rape

Apex court asked the state government to approach the high court, seeking cancellation of bail granted to four of Asaram's aides