Self-styled godman Asaram's trial begins on Dec 4

, Nov 28: Asaram, who is accused of raping a minor girl, will face the trial from December 4, reported sources.

The court in Jodhpur took cognizance of the charges against Asaram and the four other accused on Wednesday and deferred the matter for trial till December 4.

Other accused include the warden of the gurukul in Chhindwara, Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi, director of the gurukul Sharad Chandra, Asaram's cook Prakash and his attendant Shiva.

All the five accused have been booked under various charges of rape, human trafficking, wrongful confinement and conspiracy under various sections of IPC, Juvenile Justice Act and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence Act (POCSO).

Jodhpur police who prepared the chargesheet of the Asaram Bapu sexual exploitation case, presented it in the district and sessions court on November 6 after an investigation span of 77 days.

The chargesheet is 1011 page-long and comprises 121 documents and has statements of 58 witnesses.

The trial will take place on a day-to-day basis and will be completed in a period of 60 days starting from December 4.

Oneindia News

(With agency inputs)