The Jodhpur district and sessions court on Wednesday rejected self-styled godman and rape accused Asaram Bapu’s bail plea. This means that the godman would have to remain in jail at least for the 14-day judicial remand period, unless granted bail on appeal to a higher court.
Asaram has been charged with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old inmate of his ashram.
The court also remanded his caretaker, Shiva, to three-day police custody. “The bail plea of Asaram has been rejected and his associate Shiva has been remanded in three-day police custody,” DCP Jodhpur Ajay Pal Lamba told The Hindu . The two had allegedly made contradictory statements during interrogation. “However, we cannot reveal what these are as they are part of the investigation.”
Asaram’s lawyer K.K. Manan said the defence would appeal against the court’s ruling.
During the hearing, prosecution lawyer Anand Purohit alleged that the godman and his supporters were trying to influence the victim’s family. Later in the day, allegations surfaced over Asaram’s supporters trying to bribe and threaten the police. However, the Jodhpur police refused to comment on the issue.
