The Supreme Court on Monday, 15 July, dismissed the bail plea of self-styled preacher Asaram Bapu in connection with a sexual assault case lodged against him in Gujarat, news agency PTI reported.
A bench headed by Justice NV Ramana was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, that the trial in the case was going on and 210 witnesses were yet to be examined.
The bench, while dismissing the bail plea, said the lower court will proceed with the trial and will not be influenced by the prima facie observations given by the Gujarat High Court earlier while dismissing Asaram's plea.
Asaram's 'Godman' Son Gets Life Term in Rape Case
On Tuesday, 30 April, a court in Surat sentenced Asaram’s son Narayan Sai to life imprisonment in a 2013 rape case, IANS reported.
The sessions court, which had convicted him on Friday, 25 April, also slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on him, asking him to pay this amount as compensation to the victim. He was also separately penalised with Rs 1 lakh for the crime.
Three of Narayan Sai's aides, who were also convicted in the case, were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each.
Background of Asaram’s Case
Two Surat-based sisters, had in 2013, lodged separate complaints against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai accusing them of rape and illegal confinement among other charges.
Two chargesheets were filed against 35 persons in the case, while the prosecution had produced 53 witnesses and the defence had put forth 14 witnesses.
Based on the complaint filed by the sisters, Narayan Sai was arrested in December 2013 from Pipli near Haryana's Kurukshetra.
One of the sisters had accused Narayan Sai, who also claims to be a godman himself, of repeated sexual assaults when they were living at Asaram's Surat ashram between 2002 and 2005.
Police had booked Narayan Sai on charges of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other offences.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)
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