Jodhpur, September 23: In a big setback for self-styled godman Asaram, Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court dismissed his plea for suspension of the sentence imposed on him for raping a minor girl. It was the second plea file by the self-styled godman against the sentence. A bench comprising of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vineet Kumar Mathur rejected the plea. Narayan Sai Sentenced to Life Imprisonment By Surat Sessions Court For Raping Female Disciple.

Meanwhile, the other plea filed by Asaram challenging a trial-court verdict is will be heard by the Rajasthan High Court in January next year. Asaram was sentenced to life-long jail term by a special SC/ST court last year for raping the minor. Narayan Sai Found Guilty: From Asaram to Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Here's A List of 'Godmen' Convicted For Rape.

Asaram was arrested on a complaint of sexual exploitation by the teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh, who had joined the godman’s ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh for her studies. The victim had alleged in her complaint that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

Earlier in April, Narayan Sai, son of Asaram, was also found guilty in a rape case. He was given life imprisonment. Surat sessions Court convicted Sai on charges of rape, unnatural sex, assault, and criminal intimidation among others. The case against Sai was registered in 2013 after two Surat-based female devotees accused him and his father of sexually assaulting them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 23, 2019 01:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).