Asaram’s bail application rejected by high court

Jodhpur, Aug 9 (IANS) The Rajasthan High court here on Tuesday rejected the bail application of self-styled godman Asaram in a case of sexual assault on a minor girl.

Asaram has been lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since September 2, 2013.

Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, while rejecting Asaram's plea, said this is not a fit case for granting the bail to the accused when the trial is almost at its fag end.

It was the third bail application of Asaram before the high court. He had also moved an interim bail application which was rejected by the high court on July 18.

Asaram's counsel Sewa Ram told IANS over phone, "We plan to approach the Supreme Court soon."

A 16-year-old girl had lodged a police complaint accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur.

The girl complained that Asaram's aides sent her to his Jodhpur ashram on the pretext that she was under the influence of an "evil spirit" which he could exorcise.

Acting on the complaint, the police arrested Asaram at his ashram at Indore in Madhya Pradesh and brought him to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013.