In this file photo taken in October 2013 Indian spiritual guru Asaram Bapu (center) is escorted by state police as he leaves a local court in Gandhinagar, some 30 km from Ahmedabad. An Indian guru with millions of followers was found guilty April 25, 2018 of raping a teenage devotee on the pretext of ridding her of evil spirits, a lawyer for the victim said. (AFP/Sam Panthaky).
An Indian guru with millions of followers was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for raping a teenage devotee on the pretext of ridding her of evil spirits, his lawyer said.
Asaram Bapu, one of India's most charismatic and controversial "godmen", was given the maximum sentence at a closed jailhouse hearing in Rajasthan state, where hundreds of police were on high alert for a backlash from his disciples.
