SC rejects Asaram's bail plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday rejected the bail plea of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, currently in jail for allegedly raping a minor girl studying in one of his ashrams.

An apex court bench headed by Justice T.S. Thakur said that the ground cited by Asaram was not of such urgency to grant him bail.

The 72-year-old guru was arrested after a 16-year-old girl lodged a police complaint Aug 20, 2013, accusing him of sexually assaulting her at his ashram in Jodhpur.

The court also said that unless the critical witnesses in the case are examined, he would not be set free on bail.

Having said that, the apex court asked the Rajasthan government to give it the names of six witnesses which are critical and crucial for the prosecution in the case.