Asaram rape case verdict today Centre learns Ram Rahim lesson With the Asaram rape case verdict due in Jodhpur today, the Centre has asked Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana to beef up security and maintain law and order. Catch live updates from the verdict
A Jodhpur court will on Wednesday pronounce its verdict in the Asaram rape case, inside the premises of the Central Jail in Jodhpur, amid tight security to avoid a repeat of the violent protests and arson seen when another self-styled godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, had earlier been sent to jail in a rape case. The case relates to the alleged rape of a teenager by the self-styled godman in 2013. The Jodhpur Court has dismissed a petition seeking the entry of media persons into the Central Jail of Jodhpur to cover the Asaram rape case judgment. Security has also been beefed up outside the victim's residence. And, apprehending trouble, the Union home ministry has issued an advisory to Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana to step up security, directing them to ensure no violence takes place after the judgment.
Here are the top 10 developments and things to know in the Asaram rape case verdict to be delivered in Jodhpur today: 1) Jodhpur SC/ST Court to deliver verdict in Asaram rape case today: The Jodhpur Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Court on Wednesday will pronounce its verdict in the rape case against Asaram. On April 7, the Jodhpur SC/ST Court had completed its hearing in the Asaram rape case. 2) Asaram could get 10 years in jail: If convicted in the rape case in which the Jodhpur court will pronounce its verdict today, Asaram could be jailed for a minimum of 10 years or awarded a maximum life term, according to prosecution lawyers. 3) Asaram rape case verdict to be delivered inside Central Jail in Jodhpur: Apprehending trouble from thousands of Asaram's followers and to avoid a repeat of the Dera Sacha Sauda incident -- there were incidents of violence in Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh after a special court in Mohali last year convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a rape case -- the Jodhpur court will pronounce its verdict in the Asaram rape case inside the premises of the Central Jail in Jodhpur. 4) Centre asks Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana to beef up security ahead of the Asaram verdict: The Centre on Tuesday asked the Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana governments to tighten security and deploy additional forces ahead of the Asaram rape case verdict today. 5) Asaram rape case victim provided security ahead of verdict: Security was also stepped up around the victim's house in Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. "The security for the victim's family is continuously being monitored. 6) Delhi Police on high alert: The police believe that the national capital might also see tensions boiling over in the event of an adverse judgment in the Asaram case. The Delhi Police on Tuesday said that it was on high alert. According to a senior police official, the department is keeping a close watch on Delhi's boundaries and inside city areas where Asaram's supporters could gather after the judgment. 7) Security beefed up, Section 144 enforced in Jodhpur ahead of Asaram rape case verdict: Since Monday, security has been tightened in Jodhpur. Jodhpur Police Commissioner Ashok Rathore told news agencies that Section 144 had been enforced in the city. 8) Verdict comes after 12 failed bail applications: Asaram has unsuccessfully moved 12 bail applications. Of these, six were rejected by the trial court, three by the Rajasthan High Court, and three by the Supreme Court. 9) Asaram also facing a rape case in Surat: Asaram is also facing a rape case in Gujarat, where two Surat-based sisters had lodged separate complaints against the self-styled godman and his son Narayan Sai, accusing them of rape. 10) Detailed timeline of the Asaram rape case:Asaram was arrested on the complaint filed by a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur alleging the self-styled godman raped her at his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur on the night of August 15, 2013.