RAJASTHAN HC REJECTS ASARAM’S PLEA
Asaram Bapu moved the Rajasthan High Court alleging “media trial” in the 2013 rape case and claimed negative coverage affected his trial. However, the High Court rejected the plea, saying media reports do not influence court verdicts, and upheld his life imprisonment sentence in the minor rape case.
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu alleged that he was being subjected to a “media trial.” In the 2013 rape case, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Rajasthan High Court. Asaram argued that the media had portrayed him negatively and already declared him guilty. Challenging this, he approached the High Court. However, the court rejected the argument, stating that the voice of the victim cannot be ignored. The court observed that when a survivor is trying to protect her dignity and live with respect in society, the question of “media trial” does not arise in that manner. The case dates back to August 2013, when allegations surfaced that a minor girl was raped at Asaram’s ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. In 2018, the Jodhpur POCSO Court convicted him and awarded life imprisonment. Asaram later appealed against the sentence in the Rajasthan High Court. His lawyer argued that negative media coverage had influenced the trial and accused sections of the media of bias. A demand was even made to boycott certain news channels. However, the High Court clarified that adverse media reporting does not influence judicial proceedings or the final verdict of a court. The court ultimately upheld Asaram’s life sentence.