According to sources his counsel had asked for leniency, citing his age and health and moreover the judge took a strong view of the allegations and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Meanwhile his aides, Shilpi and Sharad, who were convicted with him, have been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment each.
Accordingly his followers are allegedly planning to move the High Court against the verdict. Presently a Jodhpur trial court had pronounced Asaram guilty of raping a minor in his ashram in Jodhpur and was also convicted under sections of POCSO and the Juvenile Justice Act.
Furthermore Jodhpur turned into a virtual fortress before the verdict
and neighboring states too were put on high alert. Media reports that the judge
presiding the case has been provided Z+ security. Previously Haryana and parts
of Rajasthan witnessed widespread violence when another self-styled god man,
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of the Dera Sacha Sauda was charged with rape and has
been imprisoned for 20 years.
