SC Dismisses Asaram Bapu's Bail Plea In Sexual Assault Case In Gujarat

 The Supreme Court Monday dismissed the bail plea of self-styled preacher Asaram Bapu in connection with a sexual assault case lodged against him in Gujarat.

A bench headed by Justice N V 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.

Two Surat-based sisters had lodged separate complaints against Asaram and his son Narayan Sai accusing them of rape and illegal confinement among other charges.

In April 2018, a Jodhpur court had convicted him for rape of a minor  girl in Rajasthan and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

He was arrested on September 1, 2013 for raping the 16-year-old native of Sharanpur, Uttar Pradesh in August, 2013. The teenaged rape survivor was studying at the gurukul in one of Asaram's ashram in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh.

(With PTI inputs)