Gujarat Court Convicts Self-Styled Godman Asaram Bapu For Raping Woman Disciple

On Tuesday, the Gandhinagar Sessions Court, which found Asaram Bapu guilty today, will decide the case's fate.

Self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu

Source : File Photo/PTI

New Delhi: In the disciple rape case of 2013, self-proclaimed godman Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, more commonly known as Asaram Bapu, was found guilty by a court in Gujarat's Gandhinagar, reported news agency PTI. Judge DK Soni of the Sessions Court reserved a Tuesday (January 31) order regarding the quantum of sentence.

Gujarat: Gandhinagar court convicts godman Asaram Bapu in woman disciple rape case

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 30, 2023

Due to a lack of evidence, the court cleared six other people, including Asaram's wife.

The woman was allegedly raped multiple times between 2001 and 2006 while she lived at Asaram Bapu's ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, according to the FIR filed at Chandkheda police station.

On Monday, special public prosecutor RC Kodekar stated, "The court has accepted the prosecution case and convicted Asaram under sections 376 2(C) (rape), 377 (unnatural offences) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code for illegal detention, among others," quoted PTI.

At the moment, Asaram Bapu is being held in a jail in Jodhpur. He was found guilty and given a prison sentence in a separate sexual assault case in 2018 by a trial court in Jodhpur. In 2013, he was guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl in his Jodhpur ashram in 2013.

Asaram Bapu and seven others were accused of rape and illegal confinement by a Surat-based woman in October 2013, with one victim passing away during the trial. In July 2014, a chargesheet was filed. 

Asaram Bapu is also embroiled in land disputes. A case has been registered against him for occupying about 100 acres of land in Ratlam. The case is of 2001 when Asaram's Yoga Vedanta Samiti took land near Mangalaya temple for 11 days. But after 11 days the land was not vacated. This land worth Rs 700 crore belongs to 'Jayant Vitamins Limited'.

Asaram, his son Narayan Sai and some others were made accused in this land case. Earlier in the year 2000, the matter of grabbing another land on him was in the headlines.