The supreme court on Tuesday granted interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu on medical grounds until March 31, 2025. Asaram, 83, is currently serving life sentences in two separate rape cases from 2013—one in Gujarat and another in Rajasthan
The bench, comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal, stipulated that during his interim bail, Asaram must not meet with his followers en masse and will be provided an escort of three policeme
Despite this interim bail, Asaram will remain in jail due to his conviction in the Rajasthan case. To secure release, he would need to obtain a similar bail order in that case
Asaram was convicted in 2018 for raping a minor girl at his ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and in 2023 for sexually assaulting a woman at his ashram near Gandhinagar, Gujar
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The Supreme Court’s decision to grant interim bail was influenced by Asaram’s advanced age and deteriorating health, including a history of heart attacks and other severe comorbidities. The Court emphasized that the relief was granted solely on humanitarian ground.
Supreme Court Justices MM Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal granted him interim bail till March 31 but ordered that he can’t meet his followers after he is released.
The court also told police officers to escort Asaram to hospital, but not dictate where he should go for the treatment.
