The Rise and Fall of Asaram Bapu
Asaram once controlled a large spiritual empire but was later convicted twice of serious crimes. His journey shows the fall from blind devotion to legal accountability.
If you have seen the web series Aashram, you may have already seen hints of blind devotion, power, and secrets. But the real story behind Asaram Bapu goes much deeper and is far darker.
Asaram was born in 1941 in Pakistan. After Partition, his family moved to Gujarat. He grew up with very little formal education and started giving small spiritual talks in the 1970s. Over time, crowds grew, and he built his first ashram in Gujarat. Soon, there were many ashrams across India, and by the 2000s, he had political visitors, lakhs of followers, and national influence.
But serious allegations were rising. A woman from Surat later said Asaram had abused her between 2001 and 2006. In 2008, two boys died at his gurukul, creating suspicion. Reports also mentioned land disputes and pressure tactics.
Then came the turning point in August 2013. A 16-year-old girl accused Asaram of rape at his Jodhpur ashram. She spoke up despite threats. He was arrested on 31 August 2013.
During the trial, many witnesses were attacked, threatened, or killed. Later, a tax investigation found ?2,300 crore of undisclosed income linked to his trusts.
On 25 April 2018, he was convicted of raping the minor and sentenced to life imprisonment. In January 2023, another court sentenced him again for sexual assault and threats.
From 2013 to 2025, he stayed in jail and repeatedly failed to get bail. In 2025, he received temporary medical bail, but the court kept his life sentences intact.
His story shows how power can rise and how truth can still stand.
