A self-styled "godman" has been given a life sentence in India for raping a minor at his monastery in 2013.

Asaram Bapu was given the maximum punishment by a special court after being convicted of assaulting the child, who was brought to his ashram by her parents for treatment.

They were told their daughter was possessed by an evil spirit and could be cured by the godman.

In her complaint to the police, the minor said she was sexually assaulted and threatened by the godman when she was alone with him.

Image: A supporter of India's ruling Congress party uses her sandal to hit a picture of spiritual leader Asaram

Bapu has been in prison during the trial for fear of violence from his supporters.


Four North Indian states were put on high alert and thousands of policemen deployed as a precautionary measure.

Bapu has over 400 ashrams, or monasteries, in the country - and millions of followers worldwide.

His arrest in September 2013 triggered a spate of violence by his followers who stopped trains and blocked highways - attacking policemen and reporters who were covering the case.

Image: The self-styled godman blesses followers from atop a makeshift trolley in 2013

The administration took no chances on Wednesday and took precautionary measures in all places where the godman had a large following.

Two of Bapu's close associates were also convicted for conspiracy and jailed for 20 years each, while two others were acquitted because there was a lack of evidence.

The victim's father said: "We are happy with the verdict. We have gone through a lot of hardships over the last five years, our lives were threatened."

Image: Police patrol outside Jodhpur Central Jail, where Asaram Bapu has been held since September 2013

Neelam Dubey, a spokeswoman for the Asaram Ashram, told reporters they will appeal against the verdict in a higher court after speaking with their legal team.

This case had generated a lot of controversy over the past five years.

Nine witnesses who dared to testify against the godman were attacked and three of them were killed.

Kartik Haldar, an associate of Bapu's, was arrested by the Gujarat anti-terror squad and charged with the alleged murders of the three witnesses.

In another case, police in Rajasthan filed a charge sheet against the godman for allegedly filming sexual assaults on women to blackmail them.

Image: Protesters burn an effigy of Asaram Bapu in the west Indian city of Ahmedabad in 2013

Two sisters from Surat in Gujrat have also filed cases of alleged rape and sexual exploitation against the godman and his family.

There have been several rape cases involving minors in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, there were nationwide protests against the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Khatua in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the same time, a legislator of the ruling government was accused of raping a minor in Uttar Pradesh.

The accused in both cases have been arrested and cases have been filed against them.

Image: Volunteers stand at the entrance to one of Bapu's ashrams - also known as monasteries

The brutality of the cases generated a lot of pressure which has forced the federal government to promulgate an ordinance. Under the new law, the death penalty could be awarded to those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a social movement to ensure safety for women and girls.

He said: "Families will have to enhance the honour and respect of daughters. Families should also make their sons more responsible."

Image: Protests were held after the minor made allegations of sexual assault to police

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, a total of 34,651 rape cases were registered in 2017 - 96 a day on average.

Laws relating to crimes against women were changed in 2013 after the gang rape and murder of a medical student in Delhi in December 2012.

Since then, fast-track courts have been established to try cases of crimes against women, and laws have been made more stringent and punishments more severe.

Despite this, conviction rates have been abysmally poor.