The Supreme Court of India has declined to grant immediate relief on the medical interim bail plea of Asaram Bapu, who is currently serving a sentence of life imprisonment in Jodhpur jail after being convicted in a 2013 sexual assault case involving a minor girl. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice PB Varale heard the petition seeking temporary release on health grounds. While refusing to pass an interim bail order at this point, the bench kept the application pending on its records. The court clarified that the petitioner retains the liberty to move a fresh plea for interim bail if his medical condition deteriorates in the future.
Rajasthan Government Accuses Defense of Concealing Information
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Rajasthan government, raised serious objections regarding the petitioner's conduct. He alleged before the bench that Asaram had concealed the fact of his pending interim bail petition in the Supreme Court while applying for a 20-day parole before the Rajasthan High Court. The legal team representing the state government informed the court that Asaram has currently been granted a 20-day parole by the High Court. Furthermore, counsel for the state argued that the convict is receiving all required medical facilities, making interim bail unnecessary.
AIIMS Evaluation Recommends 24-Hour Medical Supervision
The refusal to grant immediate interim bail comes after the Supreme Court previously sought a comprehensive medical evaluation of Asaram's health. On July 21, the apex court directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to form a medical board to assess his condition. During proceedings on Tuesday, the bench was formally apprised of the medical board's findings. The report submitted by AIIMS concluded that hospital admission is not required for Asaram at this stage. However, the doctors noted that his overall condition requires continuous 24-hour medical supervision and monitoring. Defense counsel representing Asaram urged the court that the medical report must be evaluated holistically rather than focusing on selective parts.
Legal Timeline and Background of the Case
The matter pertains to a 2013 case in which Asaram was convicted of raping a minor girl. On May 27, the Rajasthan High Court upheld his conviction and the sentence of life imprisonment awarded to him in the 2013 minor rape case. Asaram subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court order. On June 30, the Supreme Court sought a response from the Rajasthan government on his petition challenging his conviction. While that main appeal against conviction proceeds, the current interim bail plea remains pending before the court.
