Gujarat High Court To Commence Hearing Asaram Bapu's Appeal Against Rape Conviction From April 2

The Gujarat High Court is set to commence the hearing of the appeal filed by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu against his conviction in a 2013 rape case on April 2.

This development comes after considering Asaram Bapu's advanced age and his decade-long imprisonment.

A division bench comprising Justices AS Supehia and Vimal Vyas was hearing the self-proclaimed godman's plea to suspend his prison sentence

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Supehia stated, "If we find during the consideration of the evidence on bail application, and we are not inclined, then we'll fix the main appeal…"

He then inquired about the duration of Asaram's sentence, to which his counsel responded, “10 years, and milords, the age is 85. Suffering from a number of ailments. At least in my lifetime I'll get justice, I'm very sure about it. Milords May fix up the appeal.”

Asaram's counsel then brought to the attention of the court four incidents spanning different years: 1996, 1997, 2091, and 2005. Hey emphasized that there were no allegations in 1996 and 1997, but an allegation surfaced in 2001, leading to the current prosecution of Asaram.

Justice Supehia, referring to the counsel's note that he had submitted to the bench before, pointed out, “Then this only suggests evidence of prosecutrix only. There must be other witnesses, no?”

In response, the counsel explained that the whole evidence revolves around the prosecutrix only. It was stated that there was one more evidence that the lead judge arrived upon from the cook who said that he was there at the time when this lady came. It was stated that although his statement under Section 164 CrPc was recorded, he had been murdered, and his statement was taken as gospel truth without cross-examination. 

Justice Supehia clarified that the bench was not delving into the case's merits, but solely focusing on procedural matters.

Justice Supehia concluding the hearing mentioned that the Court aims to conclude the hearing of the appeal, which comprises thousands of pages, before the summer break, so that the Court can give its judgment after the vacation.

In January 2023, a trial court in Gujarat found Asaram Bapu guilty of raping his female disciple multiple times at his Surat ashram in 2013.

Asaram was booked under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (insult the modesty of any woman) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

Case Number: CR.MA/1/2023 IN R/CR.A/607/2023

Case Title: Ashumal @ Asharam Thaumal Sindhi (Harpalani) vs State of Gujarat

Click Here To Read/Download Order