Centre asks Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana to tighten security ahead of Asaram case verdict

A Jodhpur court will pronounce its verdict in the rape case against Asaram on Wednesday.

The Centre on Tuesday asked Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana to tighten security and deploy additional forces ahead of the verdict by a Jodhpur court in a rape case against self-styled godman Asaram, an official said.

Security officers keep guard outside Central Jail, where Asaram Bapu is being lodged in Jodhpur on Tuesday. (AP Photo)

In a communication, the Home Ministry told the three states to beef up security and ensure that no violence takes place after the verdict.

The three states were also told to deploy additional forces in sensitive places, the Home Ministry official said.

Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana have large number of followers of Asaram.

A court in Jodhpur is set to pronounce its verdict in the rape case against Asaram on Wednesday.

Asaram is accused of raping a teenage girl from Shahajahanpur of Uttar Pradesh, who was studying at the self-styled godman’s ashram at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh.

The victim had alleged that Asaram had called her to his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur and raped her on the night of August 15, 2013.

The Home Ministry advisory has been sent in view of the fact that largescale violence was witnessed in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh after a special court pronounced its verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim last year.