SC refuses interim bail to Asaram on health grounds, allows trained caretaker
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant interim bail for now to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a 2013
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant interim bail for now to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a 2013 case of sexually assaulting a minor. The court, however, allowed him to engage a trained caretaker of his choice for round-the-clock assistance. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale kept pending Asaram's plea for interim bail on health grounds. It also gave him the liberty to mention the case again if his health worsens. Read Full Story During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that Asaram had suppressed the fact that his counsel had moved an application for parole.
Appearing for Asaram, his counsel said the parole plea had been filed much earlier and was not sought on health grounds. The Supreme Court had earlier been told that experts from AIIMS said Asaram did not require hospitalisation but needed round-the-clock medical assistance. On July 21, the apex court had asked AIIMS to set up a medical board to assess his condition. Earlier, the Rajasthan High Court had granted 20-day parole to the 85-year-old Asaram, who is lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, saying the state government had failed to justify its decision to reject his parole application. The high court had taken note of the length of his incarceration and his conduct during earlier periods of interim release.
On May 27, the Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram's conviction and life sentence in the 2013 case. On June 30, the Supreme Court sought a response from the Rajasthan government on his plea challenging that order. While upholding his conviction in the case, the high court acquitted him of charges related to gang rape and penetrative sexual assault on a child under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. However, it upheld his conviction under IPC Section 376(2)(F) for the rape of the minor, retaining the life sentence awarded by the trial court.
The high court also upheld his convictions under Sections 342, 370(4), 506, 509 and 354(A) of the IPC, along with Sections 7/8 of the POCSO Act and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Asaram was earlier convicted on April 25, 2018, for sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram and was sentenced to life imprisonment under multiple provisions of the IPC, the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. Ends
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