New Delhi, India - The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the conviction and life sentence for two terms of Swamy Premananda of Tiruchirapally ashram in Tamil Nadu for raping 13 women and murdering one person.
A Bench comprising Justice BN Agarwal and Justice HK Sema confirmed the judgement of Madras High Court affirming the conviction and sentence awarded to Swamy Premananda by the trial court.
Both the trial court and the High Court were correct in convicting Swamy Premananda, the Bench said.
"We do not find any informity in the order passed by the High Court and it does not call for any interference."
The Supreme Court also put a seal of confirmation on the order of High Court and trial court that any remission of sentence announced by either state or central government for the prisoners would not apply to Swamy Premananda.
"Having regard to the gravity of offence and the deleterious affect it had not only on the victims but also on the society at large, the sentence of trial court as affirmed by the High Court that any remission of sentence announced either by the central or the state government would not apply to him (Swamy Premananda)," the Bench said.
Prosecution has alleged that the accused, hailing from Sri Lanka, had established an ashram near Tiruchirapally and used to entice the women inmates of the ashram, 13 of whom were raped in 1994.
An inmate Ravi was also murdered by him.
The trial court in August 1997 had convicted and awarded two life terms and imposed a fine of Rs 66 lakh on Swamy Premananda.
During the pendency of the appeal before the High Court, the accused had paid the amount of fine imposed on him.
The Madras High Court had confirmed the conviction and sentence in December 2002.