Jaipur— The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday granted six months of interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in Jodhpur Central Jail for the sexual assault of a minor girl. The bail was approved on medical grounds, considering his deteriorating health condition.
A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma passed the order after reviewing medical reports that indicated Asaram’s fragile condition. The 82-year-old is currently receiving treatment at Arogya Private Hospital in Jodhpur.
Asaram had petitioned the court for regular bail, citing poor health and advanced age. While the court declined his request for permanent release, it granted interim relief for six months to allow him to undergo necessary medical care.
This is not the first time Asaram has secured temporary bail. Both the Supreme Court and High Courts of Rajasthan and Gujarat have previously granted him short-term relief on health grounds. Earlier this year, in January, the Supreme Court had allowed him interim bail until the end of March after considering his multiple ailments and history of heart problems.
The criminal case against Asaram dates back to August 2013, when a 16-year-old girl accused him of rape at his ashram near Jodhpur. He was arrested on September 1, 2013, in Indore after the case was transferred from Delhi to Jodhpur. In April 2018, a special court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Following his conviction, violent protests by his followers were reported across several parts of the country, particularly outside Jodhpur Central Jail, prompting heavy police deployment.
Apart from the Jodhpur case, Asaram and his son Narayan Sai are also facing separate rape charges filed by two sisters in Surat, Gujarat. The latest order marks the first instance in which Asaram has been granted such an extended period of interim bail, seen as a significant legal reprieve for the ailing spiritual leader.
