Jodhpur: The bail plea of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, was today rejected by a Jodhpur court after the prosecution raised strong objection to setting him free.

The District and Sessions Judge (Rural) Manoj Kumar Vyas dismissed the bail plea after two days of hearing arguments by Asaram's counsel K K Manan and perusing prosecution's detailed reply. The court rejected the defense counsel's arguments raised over the FIR, medical report and statement of the girl who was sexually assaulted, Additional Advocate General Anand Purohit said.

Opposing the bail plea, the prosecution said the ongoing probe in the case will be affected if he was freed. If let off on bail Asaram will try to influence the investigations as he had already tried to influence the police, it told the court.

Police claimed that Asaram's supporters have threatened officers handling the case and even tried to bribe the cops who had shown up to arrest him, a charge denied by the self-styled spiritual preacher. A threatening letter apparently faxed from UP was received by Jodhpur DCP A P Lamba who is heading the probe in the case, the court was informed.

According to the police, Asaram's medical report clearly showed that he had lied about being unwell to evade arrest. It also contended that Asaram clearing the potency test showed that he was capable of having sexually assaulted the girl.

"Points made by the prosecution in its reply have been accepted by the court and the victim's statements have been considered by the court too as recorded in the FIR," Purohit said.

The defence submitted that the girl was an adult but the court accepted date of birth certificate of the victim made available by the prosecution, and found her a minor, he said.