Asaram Bapu, a self-proclaimed spiritual leader, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Sessions Court in Gandhinagar on January 30th, 2023. He was found guilty of raping a female disciple at his ashram in Motera, Ahmedabad. The woman, who lived in Surat, accused Asaram of repeatedly raping her between 2001 and 2006 while she was living in the ashram.
This is not the first time Asaram has faced life imprisonment for sexual crimes. He is already serving a life sentence in a jail in Jaipur for sexually harassing and raping a minor at one of his ashrams. The rape case that led to his latest conviction was filed by two sisters from Surat who stayed at the ashram from 2001 to 2006. Both sisters reported being sexually harassed and raped by Asaram. The elder sister accused Asaram of raping her at the Ahmedabad ashram, while the younger sister accused his son of raping her at the Surat ashram.
The court convicted Asaram of rape, unnatural offenses, wrongful detention, assault and criminal force against a woman, assault, and criminal intimidation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Six other accused, including Asaram’s wife, were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Asaram’s lawyer has announced plans to challenge the verdict in the Gujarat High Court.
This is the second time Asaram has faced a life sentence for sexual assault. In 2013, he was convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl in his Jodhpur ashram and was sentenced to life imprisonment under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children under Sexual Offences Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Asaram’s crimes have been a cause for concern for many years. The first complaint against him was filed in 2013, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction. Despite his multiple convictions, he has continued to have a significant following, and his supporters have claimed that he is a victim of a conspiracy. Nevertheless, the latest conviction is a significant milestone in the fight against sexual assault and sends a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated.
Controversial spiritual leader Asaram Bapu was sentenced to life in prison by a Gandhinagar Sessions Court for raping a female disciple at his ashram. The woman, a resident of Surat, accused Asaram of repeated rape from 2001 to 2006 while she lived at the ashram in Motera, Ahmedabad. This is Asaram’s second life sentence for rape; he’s currently serving a life term in a Jaipur jail for sexually harassing and raping a minor at his ashram. The rape case was filed by two sisters from Surat who stayed at the ashram from 2001 to 2006. Asaram was convicted of rape and other charges under the Indian Penal Code. Asaram’s lawyer plans to challenge the verdict in the Gujarat High Court.
