SC Grants Interim Bail To ‘godman’ Involved In 2013 Rape Case!

SC Grants Interim Bail To ‘godman’ Involved In 2013 Rape Case

On Tuesday this week the Supreme Court approved medical bail for Asaram Bapu who is now serving a life sentence for rape as charged in 2013.

The relief was provided by a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Nindal after some people raised concern over the health of the 86-year-old man. This is the first time he is getting interim bail after he was arrested more than ten years ago. On this deal the court ordered that once released he should not in any way try to influence the evidence or approach his followers.

A sessions court in Gandhinagar on January 2023 convicted Asaram in the rape case involving a Surat-based woman in 2013.

He later went to Gujarat High Court to seek an order to suspend the life sentence, but the HC refused it on August 29, 2024. After this, he approached the SC which on November 22, 2024, issued notice to the Gujarat government. Presenting on behalf of Asaram Bapu, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, Advocates; Rajesh Gulab Inamdar and Shashwat Anand as the petitioners argued on merit and health condition of the accused.

But the Court was categorical that it does not want to discuss the merits and suspend the sentence and that the relief will be only on medical grounds only. Kamat argued that because of his age and other ailments he stands a risk of developing serious complications that may be fatal and sought an order for an interim bail so that he can seek medical attention outside the jail.

The bench clarified that the relief was granted solely on humanitarian grounds.