Godman Asaram Bapu's bail extended by Rajasthan High Court on medical grounds
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu has been granted an extension of interim bail by the Rajasthan High Court. The court allowed the extension citing health reasons, as Asaram continues to undergo treatment.
The Rajasthan High Court on Monday extended the interim bail of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu until July 1 in connection with a rape case registered in Jodhpur. The extension was granted by a division bench comprising Justices Dinesh Mehta and Vineet Kumar, following the expiry of Asaram’s previous interim bail on March 31.
Asaram surrendered before the Jodhpur Central Jail authorities on April 1, after which he was reportedly admitted to a private Ayurveda hospital on the same night. The interim relief has been extended under the same conditions previously imposed by the Supreme Court, which bar him from delivering sermons or interacting with his followers during the bail period.
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During the hearing on April 2, the complainant’s counsel, advocate P C Solanki, opposed the bail extension, accusing Asaram of violating the bail terms by allegedly preaching to followers at his Indore ashram. Solanki submitted video evidence to the court to support his claims. The court then asked Asaram to submit an affidavit clarifying his position on the alleged breach.
On Monday, Asaram’s legal counsel Nishant Bora informed the court that the required affidavit had been filed. “The court accepted the affidavit and allowed our plea for extension of interim bail till July 1,” Bora said.
The court's decision comes amidst multiple legal proceedings involving the controversial religious figure. Asaram is also facing trial in another rape case in Gujarat, where the state’s High Court had earlier granted him interim bail for three months on March 28.
Asaram has been in judicial custody since 2013 after his arrest in the Jodhpur case. He was convicted in 2018 for raping a minor girl and is currently serving a life sentence. Several other cases involving sexual assault and land encroachment remain pending against him.
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