'Godman' Asaram sentenced to life for raping a 16-year-old

In August'13, a 16-year-old UP girl, a student in a school run by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's trust in Chhindwara (MP), accused him of sexually assaulting her at his Jodhpur ashram.

He was arrested soon after.

In a separate case, two Surat-based sisters had also accused Asaram and his son Narayan Sai of rape. It is being heard in the Gujarat HC.

Throughout the years, several witnesses associated with the two cases have been shot dead or stabbed; some survived.

Asaram's former aide Amrut Prajapati (May'14), former cook Akhil Gupta (January'15) and Kirpal Singh Shot (July'15), all key witnesses, were shot dead.

Rakesh Patel, husband of a complainant, Rahul Sachan and Mahender Chawla were attacked, but survived.

In November'15, Rahul Sachan went missing from Lucknow.

Asaram has been charged with rape, trafficking, and sexual crimes against children. If he is convicted, he will face a minimum of 10 years' imprisonment.

The final arguments in the UP victim's case lasted for over five months.

During the course of the hearing, the girl's family as well as the police team investigating the case received several threats, they said.

Additional forces have been deployed in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana ahead of the verdict. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Jodhpur.

Police have asked city hotels to inform them if his followers start arriving. Personnel are also keeping a watch on railway-stations and bus-stops.

Judge Madhusudan Sharma who's hearing the case has been given extra security.

Asaram's Jodhpur ashram has been cleared of followers.

The last time a self-styled godmen was convicted, large-scale riots broke out in at least four states despite heavy security deployment.

The death toll crosses 35 as violence after Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's conviction spread to Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi.

To ensure peace, Asaram's verdict will be delivered in a courtroom within the Jodhpur Central Jail premises.