The Jodhpur Police filed a plea in Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday, seeking to shift the trial of self-styled godman Asaram to his jail premises. The move came after the police said proceedings were hampered because crowds of his followers used to go to the court during the rape case hearing. The high court has issued notices to Asaram and other co-accused and has asked them to reply within two weeks.

A senior police official told PTI that managing Asaram's supporters was a huge task for them. "We have to rope in a large number of policemen to keep them away from Asaram." He added that the followers "risk their lives and sometimes come so close to his vehicle that it may lead to accident".

The hearing was first shifted to the jail's court in 2015 but was later challenged by Asaram. The judiciary then allowed the hearing to take place at the court on the condition that Asaram would not speak to the media and would ask his supporters to cooperate.

Asaram was arrested on August 31, 2013, after a minor accused him of sexual assault at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. A native of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, the rape survivor was a student at Asaram's ashram.