Gujarat HC extends Asaram’s temporary bail till Aug 21 over critical health
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Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Thursday extended the temporary bail of self-styled godman Asaram till August 21, citing his critical health condition. Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a 2013 rape case, had sought an extension on medical grounds.
A division bench comprising Justices Ilesh Vora and P.M. Raval noted that Asaram is currently admitted to the ICU of Jupiter Hospital in Indore, where he has been diagnosed with a significantly elevated troponin level. According to his treating doctors, his condition is critical. The court, observing this, extended his bail on the same terms and conditions as earlier.
This is the third time the Gujarat High Court has granted temporary bail to Asaram due to his deteriorating health. The court referred to a Supreme Court order dated July 30, which allowed Asaram the liberty to approach the High Court for further extension of temporary bail based on his medical condition.
Previously, the High Court had granted Asaram an interim extension of temporary bail till July 7, which was then extended by another month. At that time, the court had stated that no further extension on medical grounds would be considered. However, given the severity of his current condition, the extension was allowed once again.
Asaram had initially approached the High Court after the interim bail granted to him by the Supreme Court, valid till March 31, was nearing its end. The apex court had directed that he must seek any extension from the High Court. A split verdict by a division bench of the High Court led to the case being referred to a third judge, who granted Asaram three months’ temporary bail.
In January 2023, a court in Gandhinagar sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment for repeatedly raping a woman disciple from Surat between 2001 and 2006 while she was living at his Motera ashram near Ahmedabad. He is also serving a separate life term in Rajasthan for raping a minor girl at his ashram in 2013.
Asaram was convicted under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 2 (C) (rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 357 (assault), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
With PTI inputs