The Gujarat High Court dismissed a plea by Asaram Bapu, who had sought to suspend his life sentence for raping a minor in 2013. The self-styled Godman was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2018 by a Jodhpur court. The High Court upheld the lower court's verdict and rejected Asaram Bapu's plea for suspension of his sentence. The plea was rejected due to lack of merit and in the interest of justice.
Asaram Bapu Case: A Timeline and FAQs
Background:
Asaram Bapu, a self-styled spiritual guru, was arrested in August 2013 on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl at his ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The girl, along with her parents, had sought refuge at the ashram after being threatened by her father's employer.
Trial and Conviction:
Asaram Bapu's trial began in 2014, with the prosecution presenting testimonies from the victim, her parents, and other witnesses. The defense argued that the allegations were false and politically motivated.
In April 2018, a Jodhpur court convicted Asaram Bapu of rape and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court also convicted two of his aides, Shiva and Sharad, for assisting in the crime.
Appeal and Dismissal:
Asaram Bapu appealed his conviction to the Gujarat High Court. However, the court upheld the lower court's verdict on January 29, 2023, and rejected his plea for suspension of sentence.
Top 5 FAQs:
1. What were the allegations against Asaram Bapu?
Asaram Bapu was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at his ashram in Jodhpur in 2013.
2. What was the verdict of the trial court?
Asaram Bapu was convicted of rape and sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2018.
3. What was the Gujarat High Court's decision?
The Gujarat High Court dismissed Asaram Bapu's plea to suspend his life sentence on January 29, 2023.
4. What are the reasons for the Gujarat High Court's decision?
The Gujarat High Court found that Asaram Bapu's plea for suspension of sentence lacked merit and was not in the interest of justice.
5. What is Asaram Bapu's current status?
Asaram Bapu is serving a life sentence at the Jodhpur Central Jail.
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