Asaram sexual assault case: HC grants bail to co-accused Shilpi
The Rajasthan High Court today suspended the sentence of a co-accused in Asaram sexual assault case and granted her bail. Justice Vijay Bishnoi granted the relief to Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi, who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by a trial court, on a personal bond of Rs. 2 lakh and two surety bonds each of Rs. 1 lakh said Shilpi's Counsel Mahesh Bora.
Prosecution failed to establish that Shilpi sent victim to Asaram
"She (Shilpi) had challenged her sentence in the HC. The arguments on the appeal had completed on Wednesday and the court had reserved the order," said Bora. The HC observed that the prosecution failed to establish any direct link and evidence that Shilpi had sent the victim girl and her parents to main accused Asaram in Jodhpur at Manai-based ashram, the lawyer said.
Shilpi will have to appear before court once a year
"This sentence will remain suspended until the final disposal of her appeal pending in the High Court. She (Shilpi) will have to appear in the trial court once in a year, in January, until the disposal of the appeal," Bora said.
Trial court had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment
The High Court also observed that neither the girl nor her parents had kept any contact, whatsoever, with the applicant Shilpi after leaving the Gurukul at Chhindwara where the victim girl studied, the lawyer said. The trial court had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment and another co-accused Sharad to 20 years. All of them have appealed to the High Court.
