Asaram Bapu, arrested on allegation of sexually assaulting a minor girl, will continue to remain in judicial custody as the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday decided to hear his bail plea October 1, police said.
Asaram, 72, filed a bail application before the Jodhpur bench of the High Court on September 13. The bail application first came up for hearing on Monday and since the arguments remained inconclusive, the High Court put off the proceedings on Wednesday. Senior counsel Ram Jethmalani appeared for Asaram in the court Wednesday.
“We presented our argument opposing the bail today,” Anand Purohit, prosecution counsel said. “The defence lawyers sought time for replying, for which Justice Nirmaljit Kaur has slated the next hearing for October 1,” he added. Asaram is lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since September 2.
The spiritual guru was presented before court of the district and sessions judge (Jodhpur rural) on September 16. The court extended his judicial custody till September 30. A 16-year-old girl on August 20 lodged a police complaint, accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur.