Asaram Bapu Granted Interim Bail by Rajasthan High Court for Medical Treatment

The Rajasthan High Court granted Asaram Bapu, a controversial figure claiming to be a godman, interim bail. Asaram, who is currently serving a life sentence for rape, received this bail a mere week following the Supreme Court's decision to grant him bail until March 31 for a separate rape case. The Supreme Court's decision was based on Asaram's health issues, noting that he required medical treatment.

Following the Supreme Court's grant of bail on medical grounds, Asaram's legal team quickly filed a plea in the high court for the suspension of his sentence. A bench, led by Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur, issued the order granting Asaram bail under the same conditions set by the Apex Court. Among the stipulations was a specific prohibition against Asaram meeting with his followers upon release.

In April 2018, Asaram was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of raping a minor at his ashram in Jodhpur in 2013. A second accusation emerged from a woman at Asaram's Gandhinagar ashram, leading to another life sentence on January 31, 2023, for rape. The high court's decision to grant bail was clarified as being on humanitarian grounds, with strict instructions to adhere to the conditions set during the bail period. The court also noted that Asaram's medical condition could be reviewed as the end of his bail term approached.

The legal team representing Asaram in the top court included Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, along with Advocates Rajesh Gulab Inamdar and Shashwat Anand. They challenged the conviction by highlighting inconsistencies in the prosecution's case and argued that the conviction rested on the uncorroborated testimony of the prosecution. Asaram's counsel, Nishant Bora, remarked, "We argued that the plea was similar in nature to that filed in the Supreme Court and the grounds stand valid in this case as well." He also noted that the conditions of Asaram's interim bail were largely identical to those set by the apex court, with the exception of one condition regarding travel.

Should Asaram need to travel outside Jodhpur, he is required to cover the expenses of the three constables assigned to accompany him. This development follows a previous denial by the Supreme Court in March of the previous year, where Asaram's challenge to the Rajasthan High Court's decision affirming his conviction in another rape case was dismissed.

Subsequently, the Rajasthan High Court allowed Asaram to seek ayurvedic treatment at the 'Arogayadham Center' in Jodhpur under police custody, scheduled for March 2024. Additionally, he was granted parole for 15 days, with an extra two days allotted for travel, on December 18 of last year to undergo treatment. This series of legal maneuvers and the courts' responses highlight the ongoing saga of Asaram Bapu's legal battles and the judicial system's navigation through issues of health, conviction, and the conditions of bail.