The Rajasthan High Court's Jodhpur Bench on Wednesday, 27 May upheld the life imprisonment sentence awarded to self-styled godman Asaram in the sexual assault case involving a minor student at his ashram. The Division Bench, comprising Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit, affirmed the conviction while acquitting co-accused Shilpi and Sharatchand. Asaram, currently out on interim medical bail, is now required to surrender to authorities.

Background of the Case

Asaram was arrested in August 2013 following allegations of sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. After a prolonged trial, a Special POCSO Court in Jodhpur convicted him on 25 April 2018 and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The High Court conducted day-to-day hearings in the appeal from 16 February to 20 April 2026, reserved its judgment on 20 April, and pronounced the verdict on 27 May.

What the Defence and Prosecution Argued

Asaram's defence described the case as fabricated, pointing to alleged inconsistencies in the statements of the victim's parents and asserting that no call records established communication between Asaram and the victim on the night of the incident. Invoking the principle of parity, defence lawyers contended that since certain co-accused had been acquitted on the same evidence, Asaram too could not be held guilty.

The prosecution and the victim's counsel, P.C. Solanki, countered that under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the testimony of the victim alone constitutes sufficient evidence for conviction — a principle they noted has been repeatedly upheld by the Supreme Court of India. They further argued that attacks on and killings of witnesses reflected attempts to destroy evidence and influence the proceedings.

The Bail Question and Surrender Order

The 86-year-old had repeatedly sought bail, citing advanced age and deteriorating health. Acting on directions of the Supreme Court, the High Court had granted interim medical bail, extended on multiple occasions. With the latest verdict affirming his conviction, that relief is now effectively extinguished and he must surrender.

Second Conviction and Broader Context

This is not Asaram's first conviction. He is already serving a life sentence in a separate sexual assault case involving a female devotee at his ashram in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in which he was convicted in January 2023. The Jodhpur ruling reinforces what has become one of India's most high-profile cases under the POCSO framework, spanning over a decade from arrest to final appellate confirmation. Notably, the case has been marked by witness intimidation concerns, underscoring the broader challenge of prosecuting crimes involving powerful religious figures.

What Happens Next

With the High Court's verdict now on record, Asaram must formally surrender. Any further legal recourse would lie with the Supreme Court of India. Legal observers say the ruling is a significant affirmation of the POCSO Act's evidentiary standards and could set a precedent for similar cases involving influential accused who challenge victim testimony on grounds of corroboration.