SC raps Gujarat govt over slow trial in rape case against Asaram Bapu
The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Gujarat government over the slow pace of trial in the rape case involving self-styled godman Asaram Bapu. A bench comprising justices N V Ramanna and Amitava Roy asked the state government why the victim has not been examined till now.
It asked the state government to file an affidavit in this regard and posted the matter for further hearing after Diwali. The apex court had on April 12 asked the trial court in Gujarat to expedite the recording of evidence of prosecution witnesses in a sexual assault case lodged by two Surat-based sisters against the self-styled godman. The court had asked the Surat trial court to record the testimonies of 46 remaining prosecution witnesses including the alleged rape victims. Earlier, the top court had refused to grant bail to Asaram on various grounds including his poor health in two separate sexual assault cases lodged in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The apex court, while dismissing his bail plea on January 30, had observed that Asaram had placed a "fictitious document" to persuade the court to grant him bail and had ordered registration of an FIR against those responsible for preparing and filing the alleged fake papers. READ MORE
ARTICLE SOURCE – BUSINESS STANDARD