The bail plea was filed as part of Asaram’s appeal challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s decision to uphold his conviction for sexually assaulting a minor devotee in Jodhpur in 2013.
The case involves allegations that a devotee of Asaram Bapu, then a minor, had been wrongfully confined in the godman’s ‘kutiya’ (thatched house) at his ashram in Jodhpur’s Manai in August of 2013 and subjected to penetrative sexual assault and criminal intimidation.
A trial court convicted Asaram Bapu and two co-accused, hostel warden Sanchita Shilpi and school director Sharad Chandra, prompting them to move an appeal before the Rajasthan High Court.
In May this year, the High Court upheld Asaram Bapu’s conviction for rape and related offences under Sections 370(4), 342, 509, 506, 354A and 376(2)(f) Indian Penal Code, Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and Sections 3, 4, 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act).
This led to the appeal before the Supreme Court.
Asaram sought interim bail on medical grounds while his appeal remains pending.
His plea said that he has developed “acute internal bleeding”.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for State of Rajasthan, said on July 17 that just 3 months ago, Asaram undertook journeys to Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya after getting bail on medical grounds.
“He got the bail on the ground that he was in vegetative state. But now he is roaming around,” the SG said.
