Asaram’s rajdar Shilpi gets relief from Rajasthan High Court

Convicted godman Asaram’s co-accused and hostel warden Shilpi alias Sachita, got relief from the Rajasthan High Court on Saturday. Judge Vijay Vishnoi ordered Shilpi to be released on bail. Her sentence has been adjourned as well. Shilpi was given twenty years’ imprisonment by the SC/ST court in the Asaram sexual assault case. Since then she was locked up in jail.

Madhusudan Sharma, the then presiding officer of the SC/ST court, pronounced the verdict on April 25 this year. In this case the court sentenced Asaram’s co-accused and Chhindwara Ashram’s hostel warden Shilpi to 20 years of imprisonment. The case against co-accused Shilpi was registered under sections 109, 120B of the Indian Penal Code, Section 17 and 23 of POCSO Act. Shilpi appealed to the Rajasthan High Court against the sentence along with the plea for adjournment of the sentence. In the court of Judge Vijay Vishnoi, the arguments of all the parties were wrapped up two days ago. He pronounced his verdict on Saturday and suspended the sentence of twenty years. The government might file a review petition challenging this decision. After the suspension of Shilpi’s sentence, all eyes are now on another accused Sharad, also booked in the case.

Asaram’s Rajdar: Bail bonds were presented in Central Jail by Shilpi’s lawyers. After this, Shilpi came out of the jail. Shilpi is addressed as ‘Rajdar’ in all the works of Asaram. Sanchita Gupta, a resident of Maulashree Vihar Colony, Raipur, was the warden of a girl’s hostel. She had allegedly sent minor girls to Asaram’s room.

The entire family of Shilpa was a devotee of Asaram. After graduating from post-graduation, she got initiation from Asaram in Ahmedabad in 2005. After this, her name was changed to Sanchita Gupta from Shilpa. She started living in the ashram. Later, She became the warden of the girls hostel of Chhindwara. A minor girl of the same ashram was sent to Asaram for which he was later booked and sentenced.

Not So Easy

In this case, the main accused, Asaram, seems to be getting little relief for now. Asaram was throughout in jail during the trial. Asaram’s attempt to bail out was turned down by various courts including the Supreme Court twelve times. It is believed that it will not be easy to have Asaram’s sentence reduced.

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