Security has been beefed up in across Jodhpur for verdict in Asaram rape case.
The Jodhpur trial court on Wednesday is set to pronounce its verdict in the alleged rape of a teenager by self-styled godman Asaram. The victim, who was studying at the godman's ashram at Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, had alleged that Asaram called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013. However, Asaram has denied the rape charges.
Ahead of the verdict, Jodhpur has been turned into a fortress and section 144 has been imposed in the city. Apprehending a threat to law and order, the Centre has even asked Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana governments to tighten security and deploy additional forces as the three states have a large number of followers of the 77-year-old Asaram.
If convicted, the self-styled godman will face a minimum term of 10 years.
HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES:
09:39 am: The chargesheet against Asaram and four other co-accused Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad and Prakash was filed by the police on November 6, 2013 under various sections of the POSCO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and IPC.
09:21 am: Asaram has been lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail for past four years.
09:04 am: The Asaram rape case verdict is expected to be out at around 10 am.
08:30 am: The judge has arrived at the Jodhpur SC/ST court, hearing is expected to begin shortly.
07:40 am: Final arguments in the Asaram case had been completed by the special court for SC/ST cases on April 7 and the court had kept the order reserved for April 25.
Rajasthan: The Judge has reached Jodhpur Central Jail, verdict on Asaram to be pronounced shortly pic.twitter.com/pnuUPvcQG6
— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018
07:30 am: Fearing possible communal violence similar to that in Panchkula following the conviction of controversial godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case, the judgement in the case will be pronounced inside the Jodhpur Central Jail.
07:27 am: The Jodhpur court has dismissed a petition seeking entry of media persons in Jodhpur jail for the coverage of the verdict.
07:24 am: Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be imposed in Jodhpur till April 30.
07:12 am: In Gujarat, two Surat-based sisters lodged separate complaints against self-styled godman Asaram and his son Narayan Sai, accusing them of rape.
07:08 am: Asaram was arrested in Indore and brought to Jodhpur on September 1, 2013.
07:06 am: The self-styled godman is under judicial custody since September 2, 2013.
06:55 am: Meanwhile, security has also been heightened in the national capital fearing violence by Asaram supporters.
WATCH: Security beefed up in Jodhpur ahead of Asaram rape case verdict