Rajasthan HC acquits Asaram of gang rape charges, upholds life term in rape case
· Scroll
The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday acquitted religious leader Asumal Harpalani, also known as Asaram Bapu, of charges related to the gangrape and sexual assault of a minor, PTI reported.
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However, a bench of Justices Arun Monga and Yogendra Kumar Purohit upheld his conviction for rape in the case, which carried the punishment of life imprisonment. The verdict was delivered on appeals filed by Asaram and his co-accused, Sharatchandra and Shilpi, India Today reported.
In April 2018, a sessions court in Jodhpur had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment for raping a minor at his ashram in 2013. He had been sentenced to life imprisonment under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.
On April 20, the High Court had reserved its verdict on the appeals filed by Asaram and the co-accused in the matter, PTI reported.
While rejecting Asaram’s petition to set aside the life sentence on Wednesday, the bench held that the charges of rape under the Indian Penal Code, sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and offences under the Juvenile Justice Act had been proved.
However, the evidence on record was not sufficient to sustain the charges related to gangrape and criminal conspiracy, the judges...