The Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram Bapu’s life sentence for raping a minor, rejecting his appeal while affirming the trial court’s 2018 judgment. It granted relief by dropping gangrape charges but still ordered him to surrender despite medical bail.
The Rajasthan High Court affirmed the life sentence given to self-styled godman Asaram in the rape case involving a minor, rejecting his appeal and dismissing the trial court’s 2018 conviction and sentence.
At the same time, the Jodhpur bench granted him partial relief. It acquitted Asaram of the charges of gangrape and criminal conspiracy.
The court also ordered Asaram to surrender, despite the fact that he is presently out on interim bail on medical grounds.
The verdict was pronounced by a division bench comprising Justice Arun Kumar Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit, while deciding appeals filed by Asaram and his co-accused haratchandra and Shilpi.
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In dismissing Asaram’s request to overturn his life sentence, the bench ruled that the prosecution had proved the charges of rape under the Indian Penal Code, sexual assault under the POCSO Act, and offences under the Juvenile Justice Act.
However, it held that the evidence on record was not adequate to sustain the charges relating to gangrape and criminal conspiracy.
The High Court further acquitted Sharatchandra and Shilpi of all charges. Both had been sentenced by the trial court to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The case dates back to 2013, when allegations surfaced that Asaram sexually assaulted a minor girl at his ashram in Jodhpur. After the investigation, the police filed a chargesheet. In April 2018, a special POCSO court convicted Asaram and awarded him imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.
The arguments on the appeals concluded on April 20 this year. Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat and other lawyers appeared for Asaram and his associates, while Additional Advocate General Deepak Chaudhary represented the Rajasthan government. Advocate P.C. Solanki appeared for the survivor.
After the ruling, Solanki said,
“The High Court had not stayed Asaram’s sentence and that the life imprisonment remained in force. He also said that, after consulting the survivor, they would move the Supreme Court against the acquittal of the co-accused.”
Asaram has been on interim bail for medical reasons since October 2025. Prior to that, he had been granted temporary extensions on several occasions after initially receiving short-term relief in March 2024 for medical treatment. Two days ago, the validity of his interim bail was extended until July 7.
During his period in custody, Asaram’s legal team filed multiple petitions before different courts, including the Supreme Court, seeking bail and other relief.
With the High Court now upholding his life sentence while setting aside the gangrape and criminal conspiracy charges and acquitting Sharatchandra and Shilpi, the matter has entered its next phase in the legal process.