Asaram Rape Case Verdict LIVE: Judge Arrives in Jodhpur Jail, Hearing to Begin Shortly

Defence lawyer Sajjan Raj Surana told News18 that they were hoping for good news that Asaram would be acquitted. Meanwhile, the self-styled guru's Ahmedabad Ashram has appealed to supporters to maintain peace regardless.

Special Judge Arrives | Special Judge Madhu Sudan Sharma has just arrived in Jodhpur jail. News18's Zeba Warsi, who was present during the Ram Rahim verdict as well, says that unlike the Dera Sacha Sauda sect leader's verdict, where thousands of supporters slept on pavements, the pro-Asaram group is conspicuously invisible. Ram Rahim's supporters were organised and led by wing leaders. In Asaram's case, there does not seem to be any central leadership on the ground. The police in Jodhpur seems to be much more vigilant, combing all hotels every four house and sealing entry, exit points.

Asaram's co-accused, Shilpi alias Sanchita Gupta, Shiv and Sharad, are being brought to the Jodhpur jail.

Expectations Being Raised on Pro-Asaram Whatsapp Groups | Since morning, messages and videos being shared on Asaram supporters' Whatsapp groups claim that "Bapu is coming out today to bless us". A special bhajan (hymn) has been composed with the lyrics saying "Bapu aa rahe hai (Bapu is coming)". The expectation being set is that 'Asaram will be acquitted'.

Public prosecutor Pokarram Bishnoi, while talking to News18, said that they examined 44 of the total 58 witnesses, while the defence examined 31 witnesses. "Considering, how witnesses and those related to cases against Asaram have been threatened, we've built a case for strictest punishment," said Bishnoi, hoping for a conviction.

The Delhi Police force has issued an alert saying it will be in touch with the concerned states where the Asaram verdict might create a situation. All field formations of police have been put on alert. A Delhi Police spokesperson said, adequate forces will immediately be deployed to the required states in case of a situation.

Six companies of armed battalions of Rajasthan Police have been deployed around the Jodhpur Central Jail. Police are also converting two stadiums in Jodhpur city into makeshift jails in case there is a need of making mass arrests after the verdict. In a communication, the Home Ministry told three states to beef up security and ensure that no violence takes place after the judgment. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana have a large number of followers of Asaram.

Drones have been brought from Bikaner to ensure no law and order situation arises. Meanwhile, four more Asaram supporters from Gujarat have been detained.

While dismissing a plea filed by a News18 reporter, the bench of the Rajasthan high court stated that though media "was the fourth pillar of democracy", but for the sake of "maintaining public order", they would be allowed to cover the proceedings from outside the jail premises.

The security has been tightened at Jodhpur jail ahead of Asaram's case verdict:

Security tightened at Jodhpur jail ahead of Asaram Bapu's case verdict. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/k7T7uFgK71

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2018

The judge has arrived at the SC/ST court, from where he will travel to the special court being set up at Jodhpur jail. Hearing is expected to begin at 8:45 pm.

Mahinder Chawla, an eyewitness in the case and former personal secretary to Asaram’s son Narayan Sai, tells News18 about how the self-styled guru was a man consumed by lust, greed and hunger for power.

The Asaram case is being heard in a summer court, the timings of which are from 8 am to 1 pm. The judge could be expected around 8:30 am to 9 am, the proceedings will begin 10 minutes after. Meanwhile, a lone Asaram supporter came to the jail premises and was detained.

The additional district magistrate has arrived at the Jodhpur court. The judge is expected shortly while presiding officer Madhusudan Sharma will reach the court between 8:30 am and 9:00 am.

Asaram was arrested on August 31, 2013, after a teenage girl alleged that she was subjected to sexual assault by the accused when she stayed at the Ashram in Mani village. Click here to know the timeline of the case and the charges against the self-styled guru.

While Asaram was evading arrest, his son said that the self-styled guru was not hiding and would surrender once he recovers from trigeminal neuralgia (a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face).

During one of the hearings, defence lawyer Ram Jethmalani argued that the victim had a chronic disease “which draws a woman to a man”.

February 7, 2014: Charges framed against Asaram for rape, criminal conspiracy and other offences by Jodhpur court.

February 13, 2014: Asaram pleads not guilty to charges in rape case.

August 19, 2014: Supreme Court rejects Asaram's bail plea.

January 1, 2015: A seven-member AIIMS medical board examined Asaram following a SC directive in connection with his bail plea.

February 2015: Rahul K Sachan, a witness in the case was stabbed outside the local court. He was supposed to give his statement.

July 8, 2015: A witness, Sudha Pathak, turned hostile and told the court she had no knowledge of Asaram’s activities.

Four days later, a key witness, Kripal Singh was shot at by two motorcycle-borne people in Shahjahanpur.

April 7, 2018: Final arguments in the case were completed in the court of SC/ST cases Special Judge Madhu Sudan Sharma and verdict was reserved.

Timeline of the Asaram Case: How it All Began? | With all eyes on Jodhpur Central prison, News18 looks back at the series of events which led to the arrest of Asaram. Asaram was arrested on August 31, 2013, after a teenage girl alleged that she was subjected to sexual assault by the self-styled guru when she stayed at the Ashram in Mani village. The victim was a resident of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh and was a student there. Asaram was charged under relevant sections of Prevention of Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Schedule Caste and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

August 15, 2013: The day of alleged sexual assault by the self-styled guru.

August 20, 2013: The victim’s parents filed a complaint in Delhi and the case was later transferred to Jodhpur police.

August 23, 2013: Supporters of Asaram attacked Kamla Market police station in Delhi in retaliation to the case.

August 28, 2013: Father of the teenager demands death for Asaram whereas the self-styled guru's son described the young girl as mentally unstable.

August 29, 2013: Indirect allegations made by the accused that he was being targeted by the then Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi.

August 31, 2013: Jodhpur police arrested Asaram, who was later sent to jail by a court. His supporters created a ruckus outside court against the order.

November 6, 2013: Jodhpur police files chargesheet against Asaram and four co-accused. He was charged with wrongful confinement and rape of a sixteen-year-old.

November 8, 2013: Rajasthan HC directs the District and Sessions Court to start trial with daily hearings and wrap up the case at the earliest.

Delhi Police on High Alert Ahead of Asaram Verdict | The Delhi Police said it is on high alert ahead of a trial court's verdict in Jodhpur today in the alleged rape of a teenager by self-styled guru Asaram, who faces a minimum 10-year prison term if convicted. A senior police official said the department is keeping a close watch on Delhi's boundaries and inside the city areas, where Asaram's supporters might gather after the judgement. "We are in touch with police forces from neighbouring states to avert any untoward incident. Senior officers from districts and SHOs of police stations concerned have been directed to keep a watch in their respective areas," he added. According to Rajasthan High Court's directions, the trial court will deliver its verdict inside Jodhpur Central Jail, where Asaram has been lodged for more than four years. The self-styled guru is accused of raping a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who studied at his "ashram" in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. He has denied the charges. The victim has alleged that Asaram called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

378 Arrested as Police Fear Trouble | The Rajasthan Police on Tuesday arrested 378 people under Section 107 (security for keeping peace) and 151 (knowingly joining or continuing in assembly of five or more persons) of CRPC. In order to avoid a law and order situation like Panchkula that left at least 38 people dead last August, security has been beefed up around the Jodhpur Central Jail premises ahead of the Asaram verdict that is set to be delivered on Wednesday. "We have made all arrangements for the judgment day," DIG Jail Vikram Singh said. Six companies of armed battalions of Rajasthan Police have been deployed around the Jodhpur Central Jail. Police are also converting two stadiums in Jodhpur city into makeshift jails in case there is a need of making mass arrests after the verdict.

Centre Asks 3 States to Tighten Security Ahead of Asaram Verdict | The Centre on Tuesday asked Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana to tighten security and deploy additional forces ahead of the verdict by a Jodhpur court in a rape case against self-styled guru Asaram, an official said. In order to avoid a law and order situation like Panchkula that left at least 38 people dead last August, security has been beefed up around the Jodhpur Central Jail premises ahead of the Asaram verdict that is set to be delivered on Wednesday. Police have already imposed Section 144 in Jodhpur from April 21 which will stay till April 30 to keep the situation under control in the aftermath of a negative verdict.

Security Stepped up Around Victim's House | With a special SC/ST court in Jodhpur all set to pronounce its verdict today in a 2012 rape case against self-styled guru Asaram, the district administration has stepped up security around the house of the victim. Asaram is accused of raping a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur, who was studying at the self-styled guru's ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. "The security of the victims family is continuously being monitored...Two more constables will stand guard outside her house in addition to the five policemen already deployed there and a strict vigil is being maintained on all the visitors using CCTV cameras," Superintendent of Police K B Singh told PTI. Vigil was also being kept on Asaram's ashram at Rudrapur, he said. The victim had alleged that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013. Asaram, in jail since August 31, 2013, was charged under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. If convicted, he could be jailed for a maximum sentence of 10 years.

When Was Asaram Arrested? | Asaram was arrested from Indore and brought to Jodhpur on 1 September 2013. He is under judicial custody since September 2, 2013. A chargesheet against Asaram and 4 other co-accused namely Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad, and Prakash had been filed by the police on November 6, 2013 under various sections of the POSCO Act, Juvenile Justice Act and IPC. Trial of the case had begun in the district and session court on March 19, 2017, which had been shifted to the special court for SC/ST Cases on December 16, 2016. We have imposed section 144 of CrPC in the city from April 21 and would remain effective till April 30. Besides this, we have been keeping a sharp eye on ashrams of Asaram in the city and checking all hotels and guest houses as well as the bus and railway station, DCP (East) Aman Deep Singh said. We will also seal the jail on the day of judgment and would not allow anyone to get close to jail premises, Singh said. Asaram has unsuccessfuly moved 12 bail applications, of which 6 were rejected by trial court, 3 by the Rajasthan high court and 3 by the Supreme Court.

Tight Security in Jodhpur Ahead of Verdict | Security has been stepped up and prohibitory orders issued in the city ahead of the trial court verdict in the rape case against self-styled guru Asaram today. As per the directions of the Rajasthan High Court, the trial court will deliver its verdict in the case in Jodhpur Central Jail premises. Apprehending a threat to law and order from followers of Asaram, the police have imposed prohibitory orders. "We have made all arrangements for the judgement day. Magistrate along with court staff, Asaram and co-accused along with the defence and prosecution counsels will remain present in the courtroom in jail premises, DIG, Jail, Vikram Singh said. Final arguments in the case had been completed by the special court for SC/ST cases on April 7 and the court had kept the order reserved to be pronounced on April 25.