The Supreme Court on Tuesday has granted interim bail till March 31 to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case following conviction by a Gujarat court.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal has passed the order on the condition that Bapu should not meet his followers upon release from the Jodhpur jail where he is serving a sentence in another rape case.
Appearing for Asaram Bapu, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, along with Advocates Rajesh Gulab Inamdar and Shashwat Anand, had pressed on both the merits of the case and Asaram's medical condition.
It was argued that the conviction was based solely on the testimony of the prosecutrix without corroborating evidence and pointed to inconsistencies in the prosecution's case.
However, the Court had opted not to delve into the merits and confined its consideration to the petitioner's health issues.
On the medical grounds, Bapu's advocate highlighted Asaram's advanced age — he has a history of heart attacks, and several other comorbidities — arguing that continued incarceration could jeopardise his life.
It was urged that the Court may grant bail to allow him access to urgent medical care, outside of jail.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Gujarat, opposed the plea, emphasising the gravity of Asaram's conviction and asserting that adequate medical facilities were available to him in custody.
The Court has granted medical bail till March 31, 2025, so Asaram can undergo necessary treatment.
The bench clarified that the relief was granted solely on humanitarian grounds.
The Court also indicated that Asaram's medical status could be reassessed closer to the expiration of the bail term.
On November 22, the bench comprising Justices Sundresh and Aravind Kumar issued notice to the Gujarat Government in a Special Leave Petition filed by Asaram Bapu for suspension of the life sentence awarded by Gujarat's Gandhinagar District.
On January 31, 2023, a sessions Court found Asaram Bapu guilty of raping his female disciple multiple times at his Ahemdabad-based Ashram and convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
He was convicted under IPC Sections 376(rape), 377(unnatural offences), Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 357(Assault or criminal force in an attempt wrongfully to confine a person) and 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).
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