Supreme Court Issues Notice to Rajasthan Government on Asaram’s Plea Against Life Sentence

New Delhi, June 2026 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Rajasthan government on a petition filed by self-styled godman Asrama challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s judgment that upheld his conviction and life imprisonment in the 2013 minor rape case.

A Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu sought the state’s response to Asaram’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the High Court’s May 27 verdict affirming his conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

During the hearing, senior counsel representing Asaram urged the apex court to grant him immediate relief by suspending his sentence on medical grounds. The counsel argued that Asaram’s advanced age and deteriorating health warranted his release.

However, the Supreme Court declined to grant any interim relief at this stage, stating that it would first consider the Rajasthan government’s response before deciding on the request for suspension of sentence or any other interim relief.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 13.

Asaram’s appeal challenges the judgment delivered on May 27 by the Jodhpur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court, which upheld the life sentence imposed on him by a Special POCSO Court in connection with the sexual assault of a minor student in 2013.

A Division Bench of Justices Arun Monga and Yogendra Kumar Purohit had dismissed Asaram’s appeal against his conviction while acquitting his co-accused, Shilpi and Sharad Chandra, citing lack of sufficient evidence against them.

Following the High Court’s verdict, Asaram, who had been out on interim medical bail, surrendered before the Jodhpur Central Jail on May 28 after completing the required medical examination.

The case dates back to August 2013, when a minor girl studying at Asaram’s Gurukul in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, alleged that she had been sexually assaulted inside his cottage at the Manai Ashram near Jodhpur on the night of August 15.

According to the prosecution, the victim and her parents were allegedly convinced that the girl was under the influence of evil spirits and needed spiritual treatment. It was during this purported ritual that the assault allegedly took place.

After a lengthy trial, the Special POCSO Court in Jodhpur convicted Asaram on April 25, 2018, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Apart from the Rajasthan case, Asaram is also serving another life sentence after being convicted in a separate sexual assault case involving a woman disciple at his ashram in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Both convictions relate to serious sexual offence charges, for which he remains incarcerated while pursuing legal remedies before higher courts.