Ahmedabad: Self-styled godman Asaram, who is currently out on interim bail till July 1 on medical grounds, has petitioned the Gujarat High Court seeking an extension of his temporary release. The 84-year-old, serving life sentences in two separate rape cases, cited ongoing Ayurvedic treatment and deteriorating health as reasons for his request.
A division bench comprising Justices Ilesh Vora and Sandeep Bhatt has issued a notice to the state government, asking it to respond to the plea by June 27. The court will hear the matter on the same day.
Asaram was granted a three-month temporary bail on March 28 this year after the Supreme Court’s earlier bail order expired on March 31. The High Court had initially delivered a split verdict on his bail plea, leading to the matter being referred to a third judge, who ruled in favor of the extension.
The controversial spiritual leader was convicted in January 2023 by a Gandhinagar court for repeatedly raping a woman disciple from Surat between 2001 and 2006 at his ashram in Motera, near Ahmedabad. He is also serving a life sentence in a separate 2013 rape case involving a minor girl at his Rajasthan ashram.
In his latest plea, Asaram’s counsel told the court that he is undergoing Panchakarma therapy and is awaiting a medical certification from the National Legal Services Authority identifying him as a critically ill and elderly inmate. The certificate is expected within a couple of days.
The survivor’s father, a resident of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, had earlier expressed deep concern over the repeated bail grants. “When he was in jail, we felt justice had been served. Now it seems he is manipulating the system,” he said, pointing to the multiple bail extensions, initially for a week, then 12 days, then over two months, and now three months.
The High Court will decide on the extension after receiving the state’s response later this week.
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