Asaram’s son held guilty in rape case
Surat, April 26
A sessions court here on Friday convicted Narayan Sai, son of jailed self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, in a rape case filed against him by a former woman devotee in 2013. The sentence will be pronounced on April 30.
Besides Sai (47), who is lodged at Lajpore Jail here since 2013, the court held four of his aides, including two women, guilty of various offences. Sai was convicted under IPC Sections 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 323 (assault), 506-2 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (conspiracy). Of the 11 accused, six were acquitted.
Additional Sessions Judge PS Gadhvi will pronounce the quantum of punishment on April 30. The minimum punishment for rape is 10 years in jail, while the maximum punishment is life imprisonment.
Sai’s aides — Dharmishtha alia Ganga, Bhavna alias Jamuna and Pavan alias Hanuman — were held guilty for being part of a conspiracy. Sai’s driver Rajkumar alias Ramesh Malhotra was held guilty under IPC Section 212 (harbouring an offender).
Ganga and Jamuna, also called ‘sadhika’ (women disciples), were accused of putting the victim in illegal confinement and thrashing her at Sai’s behest. They were also accused of trying to brainwash her into agreeing to a relationship with Sai.
The Surat Police had filed a 1,100-page charge-sheet against Sai in 2014. — PTI
