A controversial Indian guru with millions of followers was sentenced to life imprisonment today after being found guilty of the rape of a 16-year-old follower.
His arrest, in 2013, sparked widespread protests by his followers that led to violent clashes with police.
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Ahead of today’s verdict, police were placed on high alert across three Indian states amid fears of similar violence, CNN reports.
However, Bapu’s spokesperson, Neelam Dubey, refuted suggestions that the religious leader’s followers were planning to protest if he were found guilty.
“What kind of protest?” said Dubey. “We have full respect for the courts. If the lower court verdict doesn’t go our way, we will approach the High Court or Supreme Court.”
Bapu’s case is the latest in a string of high-profile rape cases in India that have fuelled public protests and raised questions about how the nation’s police handle allegations and treat victims.
In August, another popular guru, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping two female followers, The Guardian reports.
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