Asaram's bail application rejected in connection with sexual assault case

Jodhpur, Jan 8: A court here on Friday rejected the bail application of spiritual guru Asaram in a case relating to sexual assault of a minor.

The bail plea of Asaram, who is behind bars since September 2013, was argued by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy in the district and sessions court here on Monday.

The court, after hearing the arguments, had reserved its verdict for Friday.

While rejecting the plea, District and Sessions Judge Manoj Kumar Vyas on Friday did not make any comment over the facts of the case, but said that in the given facts and circumstances, the bail application of the accused cannot be accepted.

Swamy was not present in the court.

"We are happy that we could satisfy the court that grating bail at this stage can affect the trial of the case adversely," P.C. Solanki, advocate of the complainant, told IANS.

Asaram's bail applications have been rejected by the sessions court, Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court earlier too.

A 16-old-girl had lodged a police complaint accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur. It was alleged in the complaint that Asaram's aides sent her to his Jodhpur ashram on the pretext that she was under the influence of an "evil spirit" and he could perform an exorcism.

Upon the complaint, Asaram was arrested from his ashram in Madhya Pradesh's Indore and brought here on September 1, 2013. He is lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since September 2, 2013.

IANS