Jodhpur, May 27 (Udaipur Kiran) – The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday upheld the life imprisonment awarded to Asaram in the minor sexual assault case. The court also acquitted co-accused Shilpi and Sharatchand in the matter.
The division bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit delivered the verdict nearly a month after reserving its decision.
Asaram, who is currently out on interim bail, will now have to surrender.
The case relates to allegations of rape of a minor student at an ashram in Jodhpur in August 2013. After prolonged hearings, the Special POCSO Court in Jodhpur had convicted Asaram on April 25, 2018, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The High Court conducted day-to-day hearings in the appeal from February 16 to April 20, 2026. The bench had reserved the judgment on April 20 and pronounced it on May 27.
During the hearing, the defence argued that the case was fabricated and claimed there were major contradictions in the statements of the victim’s parents. The defence also stated that no call records were found between Asaram and the victim on the night of the incident. Citing the principle of parity, the defence questioned how Asaram could be convicted when co-accused Sharad and Prakash had earlier been acquitted on similar evidence by the trial court.
On the other hand, counsel for the victim, P.C. Solanki, along with government lawyers, argued that in POCSO cases, the sole testimony of the victim is sufficient for conviction, as established by the Supreme Court. The prosecution further argued that a series of attacks and killings of witnesses indicated an alleged conspiracy to destroy evidence, strengthening the case against the accused.
Apart from this case, Asaram was also sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2023 in another rape case involving a woman disciple at the Gandhinagar ashram in Gujarat.
The 86-year-old has been repeatedly seeking bail on medical grounds due to age-related illnesses. Earlier, the High Court had granted interim bail following directions from the Supreme Court, and the relief had been extended multiple times.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
