Rape Convict Asaram Surrenders at Jodhpur Jail After Rajasthan HC Upholds Life Sentence

May 29, 2026

JODHPUR: Self-styled godman Asaram surrendered before the authorities at the Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday (May 28, 2026) evening, following a major legal setback from the Rajasthan High Court, which cancelled his interim bail and upheld his life imprisonment sentence.

The 86-year-old convict, who was out on temporary medical bail that had been extended until July 7, arrived in Jodhpur from New Delhi on Thursday afternoon. News of his arrival drew a massive crowd of his followers to the Jodhpur airport, where he acknowledged them from his vehicle before heading briefly to his ashram in Pal village on the city’s outskirts. He was subsequently taken to AIIMS Jodhpur for a mandatory medical evaluation before surrendering at the jail around 5:00 PM.

High Court Verdict & Dropped Charges

The surrender follows a Wednesday ruling by a Division Bench of the Rajasthan High Court, comprising Justices Arun Monga and Yogendra Kumar Purohit, at its principal seat in Jodhpur. While the High Court dismissed Asaram’s appeal against his core conviction, it partly allowed the appeals regarding specific charges.

The bench acquitted Asaram of charges related to gang rape and gang penetrative sexual assault under Section 376(D) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 5(g) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, citing insufficient evidence to sustain a conspiracy or gang-related charge. The court also exonerated him of criminal conspiracy under Section 120-B of the IPC.

However, the High Court firmly upheld his primary conviction under Section 376(2)(f) of the IPC (rape by a person in a position of trust), retaining the sentence of life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. His convictions under Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 370(4) (trafficking), and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), along with Sections 7/8 of the POCSO Act and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, were also confirmed.

Co-Accused Acquitted

In a significant relief to the co-accused, the High Court completely acquitted Sharatchandra (the director of the Chhindwara residential school where the victim studied) and Shilpi (the hostel warden). Both had previously been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the trial court for criminal conspiracy. The High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a conclusive link connecting them to a conspiracy.

Court’s Observations on the Survivor

Despite the acquittal on the gang-rape charge, the bench emphasized that the 16-year-old victim’s core allegations against Asaram were completely credible, reliable, and legally established.

Highlighting the gravity of the breach of trust, the court noted that the survivor had approached the spiritual leader not as a stranger but as a devout disciple seeking refuge, unaware that the sanctuary would become a “predator’s lair.” The bench further commended the survivor’s immense bravery, noting that standing up and seeking justice against such a powerful individual demanded extraordinary courage and self-persuasion.