Asaram surrenders at Jodhpur Central Jail after HC upholds life sentence for rape of minor

Jodhpur: Convict Asaram surrendered at the Jodhpur Central Jail Thursday, following the Rajasthan High Court’s decision to cancel his interim bail while reaffirming his life sentence for the rape of a minor a day earlier.

Asaram, who reached Jodhpur in the afternoon, was met by a crowd of supporters outside the airport around 2:50pm as news of his arrival spread. The controversial figure acknowledged his supporters from his vehicle before proceeding to his ashram in Pal village, located on the city’s outskirts. Shortly thereafter, he was taken to AIIMS Jodhpur for a medical examination. He surrendered to authorities at the Central Jail around 5pm.

The high court’s division comprising Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit, Wednesday upheld the life imprisonment previously awarded to Asaram by a trial court on the grounds of his involvement in the sexual assault of a minor. The high court also revoked his interim bail and directed law enforcement to issue an immediate arrest warrant against him.

At the time of the court ruling, Asaram was in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, but swiftly left for Delhi after learning of the arrest warrant. His supporters reported that Asaram’s health declined during his road journey, prompting a brief hospitalisation for medical evaluation at AIIMS Jodhpur.

The court’s ruling highlighted the vulnerability of the survivor and her family, who had placed their complete faith in Asaram. In the judgment, it was noted, “She came to him not as a stranger, but as a disciple. She came with folded hands, not knowing that the very sanctum she sought refuge in became a predator’s lair.”

Furthermore, the bench commended the survivor’s bravery, stating that it required “a lot of self-persuasion and courage” for her to come forward against such a powerful individual.

The court acquitted two co-accused in the case, hostel warden Shilpi and Gurukul director Sharad Chandra, due to a lack of conclusive evidence connecting them to any criminal conspiracy.