Who is Asaram Bapu? Real story of rape convict with millions of followers and 400 ashrams

From the self-styled guru to a rape convict, Asaram Babu joins list of India’s infamous spiritual leaders.

As the victim’s family and women rights activists hail the verdict, here’s all you need to know about the tainted godman:

1: Asaram Bapu’s real name is Asumal Harpalani. He was born April, 1941 in the Sindh province of present day Pakistan. (LIVE UPDATES)

2: His family migrated from Bernai village in Sindh to Ahmedabad in India after Partition in 1947. 

3: His father had a coal and wood business in the Gujarat city, where he studied till class 3. Later, he ran away from the school and joined an ashram in Bharuch.

4: It was in 1960s that Asumal Harpalani became Asaram Bapu after a guru gave him this name. Soon, Asaram began preaching spiritualism.  

5: Almost a decade later, in 1972, Asaram built his first ashram on the banks of Sabarmati river in Gujarat’s Motera town, a BBC report said.

6: According to his biographical book, Asaram married Laxmi Devi at the age of 15. The couple has three children including Narain Sai, who is also a rape accused in a different case. 

7: Asaram’s website claims that he has four crore followers around the globe. Except the Northeast, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Asaram has followers in every state across India.

8: An ABP report said that Asaram has assets worth Rs 2,300 crore. His magazines – Rishiprasad and Lok Kalyan Setu – have over 14 lakh subscriptions. Apart from this, Asaram has around 400 ashrams in India. 

9: The rape convict is politically well-connected. His website claims that his ‘devotees’ include likes of former Prime Minister and BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal among others. 

10: Asaram is also accused of raping another woman in Surat city of Gujarat between 2002 and 2004. The trial in this case is underway.