Gujarat: Court sentences asaram to life imprisonment in 2013 rape case filed by ex-disciple
says his crime is 'very serious' and against society
Ahmedabad, Jan 31: A court in Gandhinagar on Tuesday sentenced self-styled godman Asaram Bapu to life imprisonment in a rape case filed by a former woman disciple in 2013 noting he sexually abused the victim younger than his daughter and committed a "very serious crime" against the society that should be punished "to the fullest extent" to prevent the exploitation of religious people.
Additional sessions judge DK Soni also ordered Asaram to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to the victim.
A day earlier, the court had convicted Asaram for rape, unnatural offences, and wrongful confinement in the case registered in 2013 for raping a woman disciple, who hailed from Surat, on several occasions from 2001 to 2007 at his ashram at Motera near Ahmedabad before she managed to escape.
The prosecution had sought life imprisonment for Asaram on the ground that he was a "habitual offender," being convicted and jailed in a similar rape case of a girl at his Jodhpur ashram in Rajasthan.
The court also observed Asaram doesn't deserve sympathy given the nature of the crime and that the defence on the ground of his old age and bad health cannot be considered valid.
"To prevent exploitation of religious people of the society, the perpetrators of such a heinous crime cannot be spared and should be punished to the fullest extent as prescribed by law," the judge said in the order.
The defence said the order will be challenged in the Gujarat High Court.
The 81-year-old godman is currently serving a life term in a Jodhpur jail in another case of raping a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013.
He was produced in the Gandhinagar court via video link when the judge passed the order on Tuesday.
Six other accused in the case, including Asaram's wife Laxmiben, their daughter Bharati, and four disciples who were accused of aiding and abetting the crime, were acquitted for want of evidence on Monday, the prosecution had said.
"The court on Tuesday sentenced Asaram Bapu to life imprisonment under sections 376 (2)(C) for rape and 377 (unnatural offences) of the Indian Penal Code. He was also ordered to pay Rs 50,000 towards the compensation to the victim," said special public prosecutor RC Kodekar, who sought the strictest punishment for Asaram on the ground that he was a "habitual offender."
Besides IPC sections 376 (2) (C) and 377, Asaram was convicted under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 357 (assault), and 506 (criminal intimidation in which he was sentenced to six months to one year in jail and nominal fines.
Arguing against life sentence sought by the prosecution, the defence lawyer pleaded with the court to settle for 10 years imprisonment for Asaram on the ground of his age and the fact that he was already serving a life sentence and jailed in another case.
In its order, the court said Asaram sexually abused a victim of a younger age than his daughter and committed a crime that cannot be taken lightly.
"The accused committed a very serious crime against the society and such a heinous crime cannot have any place of sympathy and should be punished to the fullest extent prescribed by law."
"It becomes the moral responsibility not only of the society but also of the court to set an example and prevent such behaviour. We all have a shared responsibility to ensure women's safety," the court noted.
The court also observed that in our society, a religious leader is considered a man who instils love for the divine, and leads us through devotion, religion and knowledge via 'satsang' (discourse) to God.
"Even in the scriptures, it is said that the Gods reside where women are given respect. ...If we give respect to women, we can definitely change their attitude and perspective towards men. Article 15 (3) of the Indian Constitution has also directed to make special provision for women and children," the court said in the order.
When the victim was sexually abused, she was 20-21 years of age and Asaram 61-62, and hence it is proved that he sexually abused the victim of the age younger than his daughter, and the crime committed by him cannot be taken lightly, the court observed.
"It becomes the moral responsibility not only of the society but also of the court to set an example in the society and prevent such behaviour. When the crime against the accused has been proved beyond doubt by the prosecution, then the defence on the ground that the accused is old and in bad health cannot be considered valid," it said.
"Also, this court strongly believes that the accused has committed a very serious crime against the society and such a heinous crime cannot have any place of sympathy and should be punished to the fullest extent prescribed by law," it further said.
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
