The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to suspend the sentence of self-styled godman Asaram or release him on bail while agreeing to examine his challenge to a Rajasthan High Court judgment.
A bench of justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu issued notice to the Rajasthan government on Asaram’s petition but made it clear that no interim relief would be granted without first hearing the state and unless his medical condition demonstrated a grave threat to life.
“We are not granting bail now. Subject to hearing the State, we will consider if there is grave necessity to grant bail, like his life is in danger,” observed the bench. The court also declined to suspend the sentence for the present.
The case originates from allegations that a minor girl was sexually assaulted at Asaram’s Jodhpur ashram in August 2013. He was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Rajasthan High Court upheld the conviction in May this year.
Senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu urged the court to consider Asaram’s advanced age and medical condition. The bench ordered that medical facilities in prison continue and granted liberty to seek urgent listing if his health deteriorates.