Asaram's supporter detained ahead of rape case verdict

Press Trust of India  |  Jodhpur 

A supporter of was detained today outside the in where prohibitory orders have been clamped in view of a trial court in the case against the self-styled godman.

Asaram's supporter reached near the jail and tried to put a garland on his poster, but the policemen nabbed him.

The poster was put on a wall of a corridor outside the jail boundary where the family members of prisoners wait. The supporter managed to reach there despite high-security arrangements.

Both the roads towards the where is lodged have been sealed and only mediapersons are allowed outside the jail.

Apprehending a threat to law and order, the Centre has asked Rajasthan, and governments to tighten security and deploy additional forces as the three states have a large number of followers of the 77-year-old who faces a minimum term of 10 years if convicted.

As per the directions of the High Court, the trial court will today deliver its in the premises where has been lodged for the past over four years.

is accused of raping a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the godman's ashram at Chhindwara in has denied the charges.

The victim had alleged that called her to his ashram in Manai area near and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

Security has also been stepped up around the victim's house in Shahajahanpur.

The Union Home Ministry's advisory was sent in view of the fact that large-scale violence was witnessed in Haryana, and Chandigarh after a special court in Mohali

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 for today.

was arrested in and brought to on September 1, 2013. He is under judicial custody since September 2, 2013.

The chargesheet against and four other co-accused Shiva, Shilpi, Sharad and Prakash was filed by the police on November 6, 2013 under various sections of the Act, Juvenile Justice Act and IPC.

If convicted, could be jailed for a minimum of 10 years or awarded a maximum life term, according to prosecution lawyers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, April 25 2018. 09:00 IST