SC refuses to grant bail to Asaram Bapu in rape case

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In yet another set back for Asaram Bapu, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant bail to the controversial godman in a rape case filed against him. While hearing his bail plea, the apex court asked Asaram to approach the Gujarat High Court. The top court, however, agreed to hear Asarm`s bail plea in an another rape case lodged against him in Rajasthan. On Aug 20, 2013, a 16-year-old girl lodged a police complaint accusing Asaram, 72, of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Rajasthan`s Jodhpur. In her complaint, the girl alleged that Asaram`s aides sent her to his Jodhpur ashram on the pretext that she was under the influence of an "evil spirit" and the spiritual guru could perform an exorcism. Asaram was arrested from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, and brought to Jodhpur Sep 1. He is lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since Sep 2.