The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram in connection with a 2013 rape case, citing medical grounds.
The bail is effective until March 31, 2025, with the court’s directive that Asaram must refrain from meeting his followers upon release.
Asaram, 86, has been suffering from several age-related health issues, including a heart condition. The bench, consisting of Justices M M Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal, acknowledged these medical concerns in their ruling. The court had previously sought a response from the Gujarat government regarding Asaram’s request to suspend the life sentence handed down to him by a Gandhinagar court in 2023.
However, the Supreme Court made it clear that it would only consider the suspension based on medical grounds.
In a previous ruling on August 29, 2024, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Asaram’s plea for suspension of his sentence. The court found no valid reasons to grant relief. The case involves a woman who accused Asaram of rape in 2013. At the time of the alleged incident, she was residing at his ashram near Gandhinagar.
In January 2023, the trial court convicted Asaram, sentencing him to life imprisonment.
Currently, Asaram is serving a separate sentence in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, for a different rape case. His bail in the 2013 case is temporary, and the ongoing legal proceedings will determine the future course of action.
