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Gujarat High Court Rejects Asaram’s Temporary Bail Plea
The Gujarat High Court refused Asaram Bapu’s request to leave prison temporarily.
He had asked to be released for 20 days.
His lawyers pointed to a separate Rajasthan case where he received parole because of his age and time in jail.
The state opposed the request and said a separate parole order was not enough reason for bail in this case.
The court also considered medical information about Asaram’s health.
Doctors said he did not need hospital treatment but did need constant help from trained caregivers.
The court said he could approach it again if his health became worse.
Asaram is serving a life sentence in connection with rape convictions.
The Gujarat High Court rejected Asaram Bapu’s request for 20 days of temporary bail in a 2013 rape case.
Asaram is serving a life sentence for raping a minor at his Gujarat ashram between 2001 and 2006.
His lawyers cited a Rajasthan High Court order that granted him 20 days of parole in a separate case.
The state argued that parole in another case was not an independent reason to grant temporary bail.
The court said there was no reason to consider bail now, while noting that Asaram could seek relief again if his health worsened.
- Who
- Religious leader Asumal Harpalani, also known as Asaram Bapu, and the Gujarat High Court.
- What
- The court rejected Asaram’s plea for 20 days of temporary bail in a rape case.
- Where
- The Gujarat High Court, in relation to a case involving Asaram’s Gujarat ashram and a sentence from Gandhinagar.
- When
- The decision was reported on Tuesday; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Why
- The court found no separate ground for temporary bail at this stage and noted that Asaram could seek relief again if his health worsened.
Asaram’s Legal Argument
State’s Opposition
Basis for temporary release
Asaram’s Legal Argument
Asaram’s counsel argued that he had already been arrested, chargesheeted and tried, and cited the Rajasthan High Court’s 20-day parole order based on his age and more than 13 years in jail.
State’s Opposition
The state argued that Asaram had provided no independent reason for temporary bail and that parole granted in a separate case could not itself justify bail in the Gujarat case.
Position on release
Asaram’s Legal Argument
Asaram’s counsel argued that there was no objection from the state or prosecuting agency to his release.
State’s Opposition
The state opposed the plea, creating a differing account of whether the authorities objected to his temporary release.
Health grounds
Asaram’s Legal Argument
The plea was not presented as a medical-ground request, though the defence relied on Asaram’s age and a separate parole ruling.
State’s Opposition
The court considered medical reports and noted that Asaram could seek relief again if his health worsened, but found no reason to grant temporary bail at this stage.
Key facts
- Bail request
- Asaram sought 20 days of temporary bail.
- Current sentence
- He is serving a life sentence.
- Gujarat conviction
- A Gandhinagar sessions court sentenced him in January 2023 for repeatedly raping a 16-year-old girl between 2001 and 2006.
- Separate Rajasthan case
- A Jodhpur sessions court sentenced him to life imprisonment in April 2018 for raping a minor in 2013.
- Medical finding
- The All India Institute of Medical Sciences found that he did not require hospitalisation but needed round-the-clock assistance from trained caregivers.
- Court’s health-related observation
- The Supreme Court had allowed Asaram to approach it again if his health worsened.
- Other Rajasthan ruling
- The Rajasthan High Court acquitted Asaram on gangrape-related charges in May but upheld his rape conviction.
Sources
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