Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's judicial custody was extended on Monday for another 14 days, by a Jodhpur court, where he was produced for the hearing of his bail plea.
"Asaram Bapu was presented in court today. Asaram Bapu and Shiva's judicial custody has been extended till September 30. The next hearing will be on September 30," Advocate Kapil Purohit said here.
"Further proceedings will be heard on September 30," he added.
Earlier, the Jodhpur court had rejected Asaram's bail plea.
Asaram, 72, who was arrested from his ashram in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, had sought bail claiming that police erred in booking him under a rape charge, which is non-bailable.
Earlier, Asaram created ruckus in jail over a demand for Gangajal or holy Ganga water. The controversial godman reportedly claimed that he would not accept water without a drop from his bottle carrying Gangajal. This was, however, refused.
Reports suggest Asaram recently cleared a potency test conducted on him by a team of three doctors, who established that he was not impotent as opposed to his claims. The test conducted revealed that he was indeed potent and capable of committing rape.
Asaram has been booked under Sections 376, 342, 506 and 509 of the IPC, Section 8 of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act ( POCSO ) and Sections 23 and 26 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Besides the summons served on Asaram Bapu, notices have also been issued to the manager of the Chhindwara gurukul in Madhya Pradesh, the hostel warden and the main caretaker of Asaram, who was present at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur on August 15, when the alleged sexual assault took place there.
