Jodhpur

A court here in Rajasthan Wednesday rejected the bail plea of spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, a lawyer said.

Asaram, 72, is currently lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail after the court of the district and sessions judge (rural) remanded him to 14-days' judicial custody in the sexual assault case.

The bail application was heard by the same court of District and Sessions Judge (Rural) Manoj Vyas.

"The court has rejected the bail plea," a prosecutor told reporters outside the court, adding that two suspects in the case were still missing and it was due to this that the spiritual leader did not deserve bail.

Replying to questions raised by Asaram's lawyers as to why the police complaint was filed a few days after the alleged incident, public prosecutor Anand Purohit said the girl was in a state of shock and it took time for her to gather courage and file the complaint.

Asaram, who was arrested from his ashram in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, sought bail claiming that police erred in booking him under rape charges, which is non-bailable.

The girl alleged that the sexual assault took place Aug 15 at Asaram's ashram outside Jodhpur. The spiritual guru has denied the charge.

By:IANS

img src: indianexpress.com