In April 2018, self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was convicted for raping a minor girl. He had received a life sentence, and remains in a prison in Jodhpur. A 2019 plea for suspension of his sentence was rejected, but a separate appeal regarding the merits of the judgement continues.
On Tuesday, the godman once again came into the news after his lawyer revealed that his prison stay would now become a tad bit more comfortable. "Rajasthan High Court has allowed Asaram Bapu to be provided with food from outside jail as advised by ayurvedic doctors," his lawyer, Pradeep Choudhary was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Many of his followers however continue to believe in the godman's innocence -- a point of view that his furthered by his website. According to the godman's official site, the evidence points to a "huge conspiracy to trap Asharamji Bapu".
Asaram Bapu is also embroiled in a whole host of other cases and allegations, from land encroachment to the death of children attending the gurukuls attached to his ashrams. The spiritual leader and his son were also accused of raping two other women in Gujarat. This had led to the arrest and consequent imprisonment of his son Narayan Rai and other close aides.
(with inputs from agencies)
