The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard an interim bail plea filed by Asaram, who is serving a life sentence at a jail in Jodhpur, on the ground that his health has deteriorated. The court has now asked AIIMS to submit a detailed medical report on him before it takes a call on the bail plea.
All Eyes on the AIIMS Report
At the previous hearing, the Supreme Court had directed the Rajasthan government to scrutinise Asaram's medical report and tell the court whether his condition was serious enough to warrant interim bail for a limited period. The idea was to establish whether, given his current state, sending him out of jail briefly rather than granting any lasting relief made sense. The state government, however, opposed the interim bail plea and placed its objections before the bench.
Solicitor General Cites Ayodhya and Kashi Visit
Appearing for the Rajasthan government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that Asaram is currently in reasonably good health. He said that about three months ago, Asaram had visited Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath temple, where he even walked around on foot during his visit. Mehta added that Asaram does have a bleeding complaint linked to a gastrointestinal problem, but it currently appears to be temporary and is being treated. He also told the court that the state government would take fresh instructions from the concerned officials and place its detailed response before the bench soon.
Court's Warning, Lawyer Calls Him High Risk
During the hearing, the Supreme Court had observed, "If his condition is not so serious then it is a different matter, but if the situation turns serious, we do not want anyone to be blamed later." Asaram's lawyer, on the other hand, argued before the court that his client's health condition remains serious and that he continues to be at high risk. The Supreme Court made clear that it would first wait for an opinion based on the state government's medical report. It also indicated that if the health condition is indeed found to be serious, it could consider granting interim bail for a limited period solely for the purpose of treatment.
Life Term Since 2018, and the Case So Far
It is worth noting that a special POCSO court in Jodhpur had, back in 2018, convicted Asaram of raping a minor student at his ashram and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court later upheld that sentence and dismissed his appeal. Asaram is also serving a separate life sentence in a Gujarat case involving the sexual harassment of a woman disciple. After the High Court verdict, Asaram remained out on interim medical bail until he surrendered at Jodhpur Central Jail on May 28. It is against this same health backdrop that his fresh interim bail plea now hinges on the medical report the Supreme Court has sought from AIIMS.
