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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Apr 25, 2018, 03:10 PM IST
Self-styled godman Asaram was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment till natural death by a Jodhpur court for raping a teenager at his ashram in Manai in 2013.
Special Judge (SC/ST court) Madhusudhan Sharma delivered the verdict in the Jodhpur Central jail premises where 77-year-old Asaram is currently lodged. Along with Asaram, two other accused Shilpi and Sharad were convicted while two others - Prakash and Shiva - were acquitted.
Shilpi and Shard have been awarded 20 years in prison. The police teams have been put on alert in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana.
Asaram was accused of raping a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the godman's ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.
All you need to know about Asaram rape case.
The victim had said in her complaint that Asaram called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.
Final arguments in the case had been completed by the special court for SC/ST cases on April 7 and the court had kept the order reserved for today.
Asaram was arrested in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013. He is under judicial custody since September 2, 2013.
The chargesheet against Asaram and four other co-accused Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad and Prakash was filed by the police on November 6, 2013 under various sections of the POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and IPC.
Heavy security force has been deployed in Jodhpur where prohibitory orders were clamped ahead of the verdict. The Centre had asked Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana governments to tighten security and deploy additional forces as the three states have a large number of followers of Asaram.
Here is the live update on Asaram verdict:
Asaram was seen crying in the court after he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
77-year-old Asaram will spend his rest of his life in jail
Life imprisonment for Asaram under section-6 of POCSO
More Mahila police and other police teams deployed at Asaram Ashram in Motera. Senior police officials have ordered teams to stay on alert
Rest of the two accused - Shilpi and Sharad - sentenced to 20 years each in jail
Ahmedabad police on alert after life sentence for Asaram
Jodhpur court sentences Asaram to life imprisonment
Arguments over quantum of sentence continues, court is now functioning beyond its timing. In Rajasthan, court timings in summer months are 7.30 am to 1.30 pm
This judgment is a lesson to people who think they can get away by committing sexual offences against children. I would like to appreciate the girl &her family for fighting against the culprits.: Yashwant Jain, National Commission For Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
Heavy force of over 500 policemen deployed at the Asaram ashram at motera in Ahmedabad. Special commissioner of Police KLN Rao and other top police officials visited the ashram.
Asaram's lawyers ask court to be lenient with the quantum of sentence considering his age, health and social work done by him.
The time has come when people should be able to differentiate between the actual saints and the frauds, as this creates a bad image of the country in the international arena: Ashok Gehlot, Congress
Arguments over quantum of sentence underway
Three accused including Asaram convicted, two other accused acquitted by Jodhpur court
Jodhpur police has urged the judge to pronounce the quantum of sentence today. They have said that unprecedented security has been enforced and postponing sentence would mean that it would have to be done again.
According to unconfirmed reports, the court has acquitted two co-accused.
Asaram is convicted, we have got justice. I want to thank everyone who supported us in this fight. Now I hope he will get strict punishment. I also hope the witnesses who were murdered or kidnapped get justice: Father of Shahjahanpur victim
We will discuss with our legal team and then decide our future course of action. We have confidence in our judiciary: Neelam Dubey, Asaram spokesperson
Asaram and other accused have been convicted by Jodhpur Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Court in a rape case, reports ANI
Security provided to family of Akhil Gupta, a witness in Asaram Surat rape case, who was murdered in Januaray 15. Full story here
Court proceedings are underway in the Jodhpur Central Jail premises, reports PTI
#Visuals from Ahmedabad: Followers of #Asaram praying ahead of #AsaramCaseVerdict. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/Qn96T8mNhz
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018
Trust judicary and am confident that Asaram will be convicted. I request judiciary that such rapists should be hanged. Though I have security, I request Centre for additional security, my life like other witnesses is constantly under threat: Mahendra Chawla #AsaramCaseVerdict pic.twitter.com/mhdBOxLO25
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018
Co-accused, judge Madhusudan Sharma, court staff and lawyers of prosecution and defense reach Jodhpur Central Jail ahead of verdict.
Madhya Pradesh: Prayers underway at Asaram's ashram in Bhopal. #AsaramCaseVerdict pic.twitter.com/t9BM4Beo2k
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018
Prayers underway at Asaram's ashram in Varanasi. #AsaramCaseVerdict pic.twitter.com/Aea5KxEW94
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 25, 2018
Rajasthan: A follower of Asaram who had reached Jodhpur Central Jail with a garland has been detained by Police #AsaramVerdict pic.twitter.com/OvDoPOnHkU
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018
The Judge has reached Jodhpur Central Jail, verdict on Asaram to be pronounced shortly
Security tightened at Jodhpur jail ahead of Asaram Bapu's case verdict. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/k7T7uFgK71
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018
