Asaram's judicial custody extended

Spiritual guru Asaram Bapu, arrested for sexually assaulting a minor girl, will continue to languish in jail as a court in Rajasthan Monday extended his judicial custody for 14 days, police said.

The 72-year-old Asaram was Monday presented before court of district and sessions judge (Jodhpur rural).

"Asaram was presented in the court following completion of his judicial custody today (Monday). Earlier, he appeared before the same court Sep 2. The court then remanded him to judicial custody till Sep 16," a police official told IANS.

He said the court Monday extended Asaram's judicial remand till Sep 30.

A 16-year-old girl on 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, Madhya Pradesh, and brought to Jodhpur Sep 1.

Immediately after his arrest, Asaram filed an application for bail in the same court, which rejected the plea Sep 4.

Asaram also filed a bail application in the Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court. Eminent advocate Ram Jethmalani will appear for Asaram.