Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], April 25 (NT): Nearly five years after rape charges were levelled against self-styled godman, Asaram Bapu, the Jodhpur Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Court pronounced its verdict today. Self-styled godman Asaram was today convicted of the rape of a teenager in 2013, the ruling is delivered by Judge Madhusudan Sharma under the tight security and in the premises of Jodhpur jail.

 Worth mention here of the total five accused, three - including Asaram were found guilty while two were acquitted.

"Asaram is convicted, we have got justice. I want to thank everyone who supported us in this fight. Now I hope he will get strict punishment," said the father of the rape victim.

 On the other hand Neelam Dubey, Asaram spokesperson, after the verdict was announced said ANI news agency, "We will discuss with our legal team and then decide our future course of action. We have confidence in our judiciary.”

The charge sheet was filed against Asaram in exchange of sexual favours under Sections 342, 376, 506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

Asaram's involvement was probed in two separate cases - one from Rajasthan and the other from Gujarat.

In the case registered in Rajasthan, a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh had accused Asaram of raping her at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur on the night of August 15, 2013, while in Gujarat, two Surat-based sisters lodged separate complaints against the self-styled godman and his son Narayan Sai, accusing them of rape.

Asaram was taken into police custody in August 2013, following which he was taken to Jodhpur Central jail. A month later, a potency test was conducted on him and was produced before a Jodhpur court. While the self-styled godman has filed a total of 12 bail petitions were rejected by the trial court, the Rajasthan High Court, and the Supreme Court.