After the prosecution completed the statements of the teenage victim on April 21, the court had listed the matter for cross-examination of the girl by defence on April 25. But since Asaram did not appear in the court on the day and the following dates due to ill health, the matter kept getting adjourned.
The prosecution then moved an application in the court under Section 317 of CrPC seeking an order to ensure that the trial is not affected due to the absence of the accused.
Hearing the arguments, Judge Manoj Kumar Vyas ordered that the trial should not to be affected due to the absence of any accused and asked the counsels of Asaram to continue their arguments in his absence.
“The order is also in compliance of the High Court's order directing the trial to be expedited and the judgement to be pronounced fast,” Meena said.
