Hearing of Asaram Bapu's bail plea adjourned to September 3

The Gujarat High Court today adjourned the hearing of controversial godman Asaram Bapu's bail application in connection with the rape case against him to September 3. Justice A J Desai adjourned the hearing as the state government sought time to file reply. On July 22, the court had issued notices to the state government and police, seeking their replies. Asaram Bapu has sought release on bail on the ground that police have already filed a charge-sheet.

A Surat-based woman has accused him of rape. Asaram's petition, however, argues that the complaint was filed after 11 years and it was malafide. Even after the alleged rape in 2001, the woman continued to stay at Asaram's ashram here till 2007, it says. The trial court had in January rejected his bail application. The woman's younger sister has accused Asaram's son Narayan Sai of rape. Asaram (72) is currently in Jodhpur jail after being arrested in September last year for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl at his Jodhpur ashram.