Asaram moves mercy plea in rape case against him
Self-styled godman Asaram has sought dilution of his life sentence and has sent a mercy plea to the governor of Rajasthan. He was convicted by a Jodhpur court to life in prison after he was found guilty of raping a teenage girl in his ashram, five years ago.
Asaram had challenged the sentence and had moved high court on July 2. The petition however, is yet to be listed for hearing.
His mercy plea was sent to the home department by the governor and a detailed report on the petition was sought.
According to his mercy plea, Asaram has pleaded for dilution in his life sentence terming it to be a "gruelling" punishment and citing his age.
The plea was then forwarded to the Jodhpur Central Jail administration by the department, which has sought a report from the district administration and police.
"We have received Asaram's mercy plea. We have sought a report from the district administration and police on this mercy plea," Superintendent of Jodhpur Central Jail Kailash Trivedi said.
The jail administration will send the report to the Director General (Jail) of Rajasthan after receiving it.
Asaram was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl after she said in her complaint that the self-styled godman had called her to his ashram in the Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.
