Rajasthan High Court grants interim bail to Asaram till July 1
text_fields
Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court on Monday extended the interim bail of self-styled godman Asaram until July 1, maintaining the conditions earlier set by the Supreme Court. The division bench comprising Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Vineet Kumar presided over the proceedings.
Asaram, currently serving a life sentence for the rape of a minor at his ashram in Jodhpur, received the extension after the Gujarat High Court had earlier reviewed and granted him interim relief.
He had been out on interim bail from January 14 to March 31. Upon the conclusion of the bail period, he surrendered at the Jodhpur Central Jail on April 1 at 1:30 p.m. However, the same night, he was admitted to the Arogyam private hospital on Pali Road at 11:30 p.m., where he remains under medical care. On April 3, he was taken to AIIMS for a follow-up check-up before returning to Arogyam.
Asaram’s legal counsel, Nishant Bora, stated that the court had heard the matter on April 2. During this hearing, the victim’s lawyer, P.C. Solanki, alleged that Asaram had violated the Supreme Court's directive barring him from delivering sermons during his bail period.
Responding to the allegations, the High Court ordered Asaram to submit an affidavit clarifying whether he had preached during his interim release. Bora confirmed that the affidavit had been filed. The court also requested a corresponding affidavit from the victim. According to Solanki, Asaram had indeed breached the Supreme Court’s bail condition.
The Gujarat High Court had earlier granted Asaram a three-month interim bail on March 28, the second such relief. Following this, when the Rajasthan High Court reconvened on April 1, Asaram’s lawyer sought an urgent hearing on a prior application. The matter was subsequently heard on April 2 and, after about 30 minutes of deliberation, the court scheduled the next hearing for April 7.
Asaram continues to remain hospitalised at the private facility amid the legal proceedings.
With IANS inputs
