The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Gujarat government on an application filed by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, challenging the Gujarat High Court’s verdict, which denied him bail in a rape case of 2013.
The Bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice C.T. Ravikumar sought response of the state of Gujarat regarding Asaram’s plea against the December 10, 2021 verdict of the Gujarat High Court order.
The Apex Court gave Gujarat government time till September 7, to file its reply.
On August 15, 2013. Asaram had allegedly molested a 16-year-old girl, while performing a ritual in his Jodhpur ashram that was supposed to “cure her of evil”.
The girl, resident of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was studying at Asaram’s ashram. She accused Bapu of asking her to perform oral sex and touching her inappropriately.
Parents of the girl, both disciples of Asaram, filed a complaint, following which the self-styled godman was arrested and flown to Jodhpur.
Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Jodhpur court after he was found guilty.