Asaram's verdict to be pronounced inside Jodhpur jail

The Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High court on Tuesday directed the special SC/ST court in Jodhpur to pronounce its verdict in the rape case against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu in the jail premises.

The court of special judge SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities), will pronounce the judgement on April 25.

In order to prevent any trouble fomented by Asaram's followers, a division bench of Justice Gopal Krishna Vyas and Justice Ramchandra Singh Jhala directed the police commissioner and district administration to make all necessary arrangements.

Rajasthan government had filed a petition seeking direction to the special court to pronounce the judgment in the Jodhpur Central Jail premises, where Asaram is housed, to prevent any law and order problem.

The HC also directed the jail superintendent and district administration to make all arrangements in the prison for pronouncement of the judgement.

Asaram is accused of raping a minor girl at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur.

The girl, hailing from Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was a student living in the ashram. Asaram was arrested on August 31, 2013, and since then housed in Jodhpur central jail. The godman sought bail five times but it got rejected.