MOTHER OF JODHPUR VICTIM (MINOR).

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Family member

Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh

“The mother of the Jodhpur minor victim is a co-complainant and witness who supported her daughter throughout the POCSO trial. Her daughter first disclosed the assault to her upon returning to Shahjahanpur in August 2013.”

This individual (identity protected under POCSO guidelines) was a former devotee of Asaram Bapu who resided in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. In late August 2013, when her daughter returned from the Jodhpur ashram in a state of distress, she was the first person to whom the minor survivor disclosed the details of the sexual assault committed by the godman under the pretext of an exorcism ritual.

The mother immediately supported her daughter, helping convince her husband to report the crime to the police. She recorded a statement detailing the minor's state of mind and the physical signs of distress observed immediately after the incident, which the prosecution used as critical corroborative evidence during the Jodhpur trial.

Throughout the five-year trial, the mother was confined to her residence in Shahjahanpur due to security threats. She was subjected to constant harassment from local followers, who held protests near the family home. Fearing for the safety of her children, she managed the household under the protection of armed security guards assigned by the state government, refusing to yield to the pressure to withdraw the charges.

Following the successful conviction of Asaram Bapu in April 2018, the mother withdrew from the public eye, continuing to manage the family's home in Shahjahanpur. Her role is documented as a key example of maternal support and resilience, contributing to the family's determination to seek justice despite the social and physical risks. She continues to live under police protection.