Asaram's bail plea to be heard Oct 1

Asaram Bapu, arrested on allegation of sexually assaulting a minor girl, will continue to remain in judicial custody as the Rajasthan High Court Wednesday decided to hear his bail plea Oct 1, police said.

Asaram, 72, filed a bail application before the Jodhpur bench of the high court Sep 13.

The bail application first came up for hearing Monday and since the arguments remained inconclusive, the high court put off the proceedings Wednesday.

Senior counsel Ram Jethmalani appeared for Asaram in the court Wednesday.

"We presented our argument opposing the bail today," Anand Purohit, prosecution counsel, told IANS.

"The defence lawyers sought time for replying, for which Justice Nirmaljit Kaur has slated the next hearing for Oct 1," he added.

Asaram is lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail since Sep 2.

The spiritual guru was presented before court of the district and sessions judge (Jodhpur rural) Sep 16. The court extended his judicial custody till Sep 30.

A 16-year-old girl Aug 20 lodged a police complaint, accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his ashram near Jodhpur.

Asaram was arrested from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh and brought to Jodhpur Sep 1.