SELF-STYLED GODMAN’S FALL FROM GRACE
Self-styled godman Asaram has been in custody since August 2013 after a minor girl from Uttar Pradesh filed a complaint accusing him of illegally confining and raping her at one of his ashrams in Jodhpur. A special court will pronounce its verdict in the case today. A look at the case’s timeline:
2013
August 20: A 15-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh files a police complaint in Delhi, accusing Asaram of raping her at his ashram in Jodhpur on August 15. August 21: The case is shifted to Jodhpur and an FIR is registered.
August 23: His supporters attack a police station in Delhi and assault media persons demanding the quashing of the FIR.
August 31: Asaram is arrested from Indore. September 1: He is produced in Jodhpur court, and a potency test is conducted.
September 2: He is remanded into judicial custody. September 26: Additional district and sessions judge Manoj Kumar Vyas receives a postcard warning him of ‘adverse consequences’ November 6: Charge sheet is filed against Asaram and four others in the Jodhpur rape case.
2014
August 1: Asaram is rushed to a hospital after he complains of ill-health.
August 19: The Supreme Court refuses bail to Asaram but agrees to set up a board to examine his medical condition.
September 23: The Supreme Court says Asaram’s health is not precarious enough to release him on bail.
October 15: The Supreme Court asks AIIMS to set up a medical board to review Asaram’s health reports and clinically examine him, if required. This was in response to Asaram’s plea that he needs bail for medical treatment.
2015
January 5: A panel of AIIMS doctors submits a report in the Supreme Court ruling out requirement for any surgery on Asaram, and stating that his illness can be treated through medicine.
January 20: The Supreme Court dismisses the plea for interim bail on the basis of AIIMS report
July 17: Kripal Singh, a withness in the rape case, is shot at by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Kripal succumbs to his injuries the day after.
November 25: Rahul Sachan, a witness in all three rape cases (two against Asaram and one against his son Narayan Sai) goes missing from Kaiserbagh bus stand in Lucknow.
2016
August 29: Allahabad high court orders a CBI probe into the disappearance of an important witness.
2017
January 30: Police include fresh charges against Asaram for allegedly submitting forged documents to seek release from jail.
2018
April 7: A special SC/ST court completes hearing the final arguments, reserves its order for April 25 in the rape case
April 17: Rajasthan high court directs the special SC/ST court in Jodhpur to pronounce its verdict