Big jolt to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, court rejects bail plea for 9th time in three years

Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday rejected the bail application of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is facing rape charge.

This was the ninth regular bail application of Asaram to be rejected. An interim bail plea was rejected by the high court last month.

While rejecting the bail application, Justice Nirmal Jeet Kaur said since the trial of the case has reached its fag end, it was not appropriate to grant the bail.

Prosecution counsel P C Solanki said the court also rejected the argument of defence that the trial of the case was taking long.

A teenage girl had accused Asaram of sexual assault at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. The girl belonging to Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh was a student at the ashram.

Following her complaint against Asaram, he was arrested by Jodhpur Police on 31 August, 2013 and has been in jail since then.