Asaram Bapu gets life term in minor rape case

Jodhpur, Apr 25 Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was sentenced to life imprisonment in a 2013 rape case by Jodhpur Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Court, on Wednesday.

The controversial godman has been found guilty of raping a minor young lady in Manai town close Jodhpur on August 15, 2013.

The court has also sentenced the two other co-accused Shilpi and Sharad to 20 years each in prison as to a same case.

He has been found guilty under various charges, including sections 370(4) (trafficking), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354A (outraging modesty, 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 109, 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

The controversial godman has also been found guilty under a few sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. He is right now held up in Jodhpur Central Central jail.

For the situation, out of the five blamed, including Asaram, two have been absolved of all charges.

Asaram's representative Neelam Dubey said they will converse with their legitimate group and choose the future strategy.

"We will talk about with our legitimate group and after that choose our future strategy. We believe in our legal," Dubey said.

Earlier in the day, people were seen offering supplications at the godman's ashram in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal, Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, Gujarat's Ahmedabad and Punjab's Ludhiana for his acquittal.

An follower of Asaram even reached the jail with a garland in the morning. He, however, was kept by police.

The judgement in the case was pronounced inside the Jodhpur Central Jail, keeping in see the law and order situation in Rajasthan and neighbouring states.

Asaram is also facing a trial in Gujarat for raping two Surat-based sisters. His child, Narayan Sai, is also an accused in the case.