New Delhi: A minor rape survivor has moved the Supreme Court, seeking cancellation of bails granted to Asaram Bapu. The tainted self-styled godman was granted bail by the Rajasthan High Court in October, followed by the Gujarat High Court in November. Both bails were granted on medical grounds.
Asaram is currently serving a life sentence for rape and murder.
The survivor’s lawyer, Aljo Joseph, argued that Asaram has been travelling across the country and is not seriously ill, therefore, his bail should be cancelled. In August, the High Court constituted a medical board, which in its report, stated that Asaram was stable and did not require hospitalisation, he submitted.
Joseph also argued that Asaram, who got bail on medical grounds, has been travelling to Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, and Indore, among other places. Asaram even travelled from Rishikesh to Maharashtra, he added.
Joseph further contended that Asaram never received long-term treatment at a hospital, but is undergoing ayurvedic treatment in Jodhpur. He is apparently not suffering from any ailment, the lawyer added.
The Rajasthan High Court, on October 29, granted six months bail to Asaram after his lawyer Devdutt Kamat argued that the controversial godman has been suffering from prolonged illness and proper treatment is not possible in jail.
On November 6, the Gujarat High Court also granted him bail after his lawyer submitted the Rajasthan High Court’s order before the bench and called for consideration.
Asaram has been in jail since August 2013 after a 16-year-old girl accused him of raping her at his ashram in the Manai village near Jodhpur. Two months later, Asaram and his son, Narayan Sai, were charged for the alleged rape of two sisters at their ashram in Gujarat’s Surat.
A Jodhpur court, on April 25, 2018, sentenced Asaram to life in prison.
His accomplices Sharad and Shilpi were sentenced to 20 years in jail by the court in the same case for their roles.
He was also convicted in a 2002 rape case and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
After nearly 12 years in prison, he was first granted interim bail on medical grounds on January 7, 2025, which was then extended in July and August.
The bench had rejected his plea for extension of interim bail on August 27, after which he surrendered on August 30.
