NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court of India on Thursday declined to grant interim bail on medical grounds to self-styled godman Asaram, who is currently serving a life sentence for sexually assaulting a minor in 2013. A division bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice P.B. Varale maintained that the interim bail plea would remain pending, while permitting the convict to engage a trained caretaker of his choice to provide 24-hour assistance inside prison, in accordance with recommendations from an expert medical board. The court noted that Asaram would retain the liberty to mention his bail application again if his health condition deteriorates further.
The judicial decision follows a comprehensive health evaluation conducted by a medical board at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. The medical assessment submitted to the apex court indicated that while the 85-year-old convict does not require active hospitalisation, he does require continuous medical oversight. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that state authorities would implement the medical recommendations in letter and spirit. During the hearing, the Solicitor General also pointed out that Asaram had suppressed relevant details by failing to inform the court that his legal team had separately moved a parole application, noting that a 20-day parole had recently been granted by the Rajasthan High Court after state authorities failed to justify their rejection. Counsel representing Asaram countered that the parole petition had been submitted much earlier and was unrelated to the medical bail request.
The legal proceedings stem from a 2013 case in which Asaram was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram near Jodhpur. A trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment in April 2018 under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act. In May 2026, the Rajasthan High Court upheld his conviction under Section 376(2)(f) for the rape of a minor—retaining his life sentence—while acquitting him and co-accused of specific charges related to gang rape and aggravated sexual assault due to insufficient evidence. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing his challenge against the High Court order, while confirming that his life sentence remains in effect during ongoing proceedings.
