Citing deteriorating health and critical care admission, the Gujarat High Court on Thursday granted an extension of temporary bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in two separate rape cases.
The division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and PM Raval extended the bail until 21 August, noting that Asaram is currently in the ICU of Jupiter Hospital in Indore, where he has been diagnosed with extremely elevated troponin levels, an indicator of acute cardiac distress.
“The applicant presently is in ICU with Jupiter Hospital at Indore and as per the records, he was diagnosed with very high troponin level and according to the treating doctor, his condition is critical. In such circumstances, pending this application, the temporary bail granted earlier is extended till August 21 on the same terms and conditions,” the High Court observed.
This marks the third instance of temporary bail granted to Asaram on medical grounds, following a Supreme Court directive issued on 30 July which allowed him the liberty to approach the High Court for further relief.
Also read: Rajasthan HC extends Asaram's interim bail till Aug 12
Previously, the High Court had granted an interim extension until 7 July and subsequently for another month, though it had clarified that no additional pleas for medical bail would be entertained. However, the new extension was approved in light of his critical condition.
The matter had earlier seen a split verdict from the High Court bench, necessitating referral to a third judge, who then allowed three months of temporary bail. The relief was originally sought as the Supreme Court’s interim bail granted until 31 March was set to expire.
Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gandhinagar court in January 2023 for raping a woman disciple from Surat between 2001 and 2006, during her stay at his Motera ashram near Ahmedabad. He was convicted under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376 2(C) (rape by person in authority), 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354 (outraging modesty), 357 (assault), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
He is also serving a separate life sentence in Rajasthan, where he was convicted in another 2013 case involving the rape of a minor girl at his ashram.
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