Asaram bapu case update

A lower court had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment in 2018 for the rape of a minor at an ashram in Jodhpur in 2013. Jaipur's Additional Commissioner of Police Ajay Pal Lamba has now been asked to appear on March 7 as court witness, following the plea by Asaram's lawyers that a video recording by him might have influenced the testimony of the teenager. Asaram has pleaded that the victim's graphic description of the alleged crime scene - Asaram private quarters, the “kutia” - was influenced by a video recording of the place by the IPS officer when he was serving in Jodhpur. The defence argued that it had no idea about the existence of the video clip until they found a mention of it in Lamba's book, “Gunning for the Godman: The true story behind Asaram Bapu's conviction”. In his book, the then DCP (West) in Jodhpur had said that he filmed the scene of crime on his mobile phone just in case it was needed during the investigation. Asaram's counsel argued that the girl had not given any description of the interiors of the “kutia” in her handwritten complaint or the statement recorded by police on August 20, 2013. “Lamba, visited the crime scene the next day on August 21, 2013 and undertook videography of the crime scene which has been described at length in the book,” the petition said. This video had been shown to the victim and was the basis of graphic description of the crime scene by her, it claimed. The petition argued that till the till the publication of the book, th...

• • • Asaram Bapu held guilty of raping 16-year-old girl in ashram, sentenced to life imprisonment by Jodhpur court Asaram Bapu held guilty of raping 16-year-old girl in ashram, sentenced to life imprisonment by Jodhpur court Asaram Bapu has been held guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl in his Jodhpur ashram and has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Asaram Bapu has been held guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl in his Jodhpur ashram. Asaram Bapu has been held guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl by a Jodphur court Wednesday, and has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The verdict was delivered by a special SC/ST court that convened inside the Jodhpur Central Jail. Three states – Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat – have beefed-up security as followers of the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu declared that they will hold rallies in his support. In 2013, a 16-year-old girl had accused Asaram Bapu of rape on the intervening night of August 15 and 16 at an ashram of Asaram Bapu in Jodhpur. A case was lodged against Asaram and four others – Sanchita alias Shilpi, Sharad Chandra alias Sharat Chandra, Prakash and Shiva alias Sava Ram Hethvadiya – who were associates of Asaram at that time. Prakash and Shiva have been acquitted, Shilpi and Sharat Chandra have been awarded a 20-year jail term. Asaram rape guilty: Heavy security across three states On Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked three states “We are patrolling and checking all places of stay in the city. We have also set ...

Here are the live updates: * According to reports, Asaram breaks down after hearing the sentencing verdict. Asaram's legal team to appeal in High Court, to file bail plea tomorrow. * The godman sentenced to life imprisonment till death. Two associates of Asaram sentenced to 20 years in prison *Arguments on quantum of sentence in Asaram rape case over. * According to sources, defence counsel cited his welfare programmes while seeking leniency. *'Asaram's conviction is under section 376 and POCSO Act'. *Asaram's counsel pleads for leniency in quantum of punishment. *According to police sources, co-accused Shiva and Shilpi have been convicted and Sharad and Prakash have been acquitted. *A total of six followers of Asaram have been detained ahead of his rape case verdict. * The special SC/ST court has begun its hearing proceedings inside the Jodhpur jail. * The district officials have stepped up security arrangements near the house of the victim. * The Jodhpur police have imposed section 144 in the city till April 30, banning the assembly of more than four people at a place. * Asaram's followers have congregated in various parts of the country, praying for his immediate release. #Visuals from Ahmedabad: Followers of #Asaram praying ahead of #AsaramCaseVerdict. #Gujarat https://t.co/Qn96T8mNhz— ANI (@ANI) In the case registered in Rajasthan, a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh had accused Asaram of raping her at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur on the nig...