Asaram Bapu's Parole Application Rejected; Self-Styled Godman to Remain in Jodhpur Prison In Rape Case

Jaipur, November 1: The Jodhpur District Parole Committee on Thursday rejected self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's plea for 20-day parole. Asaram, serving life term after being convicted in a rape case, had applied for parole for 20 days. The parole application was filed by Asaram's nephew saying that the 'godman' has spent five years in the jail already and was, hence, eligible for getting the first parole. However, the committee has rejected the plea. Asaram Moves Mercy Plea, Calls Life Sentence 'Gruelling Punishment'.

Asaram had also moved a mercy plea in September before Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, seeking dilution of his life sentence. In his mercy plea, Asaram called life sentence a 'gruelling punishment' and sought dilution citing his age. Asaram Challenges Conviction in Rape Case.

He had also filed an appeal in the Rajasthan High Court against his conviction in the rape case. The Rajasthan High Court last week sought the state government’s stand on a plea challenging the conviction and jail term for life. A Jodhpur bench of the high court had issued notice to the state government seeking its reply to Asaram’s appeal. A bench of justices Nirmaljit Kaur and V K Mathur had also summoned the records of the Asaram’s case from the trial court for further proceedings on it.

A Jodhpur court had convicted Asaram of raping a teenager in August 2013 and sentenced him to life in prison until death, the maximum punishment prescribed by the law for the offence. Additional Sessions Judge Madhusudan Sharma of a special court had also convicted Asaram’s two women co-accused, Shilpi and Sharatchandra, and had sentenced them to 20 years in jail for aiding and abetting the crime committed by the self-styled godman.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 01, 2018 01:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).