Rajasthan High Court Extends Asaram’s Interim Bail Until August 12

Self-styled godman to remain out of jail on Guru Purnima after nearly 12 years; courts question repeated bail extensions

In a fresh development ahead of Guru Purnima, the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday extended the interim bail of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu until August 12, marking another legal reprieve after nearly 12 years of incarceration.

The decision was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justices Dinesh Mehta and Vineet Mathur, who heard Asaram’s plea for the extension of his medical bail and granted the relief. This follows a previous order from the Rajasthan High Court on July 1, which had granted him temporary bail until July 9. Additionally, the Gujarat High Court had also provided him with 30 days of relief on July 3.

Asaram, now 86, is serving a life sentence for his 2018 conviction in a high-profile 2013 rape case involving a minor. He is currently out of jail on medical grounds. Following the July 1 order, Asaram left his ashram in Jodhpur and arrived at his Motera Ashram in Ahmedabad on July 7. While he was initially expected to return to custody by July 9, the fresh extension will now allow him to remain in Ahmedabad until mid-August.

During the Gujarat High Court proceedings, Asaram’s counsel argued that much of the initial bail period had been lost in procedural delays, effectively shortening his time outside prison. The lawyer also informed the court that a certificate from the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), confirming Asaram’s age and critical health condition, was still awaited.

However, opposing counsel questioned the necessity of shifting between hospitals under the pretext of medical treatment. They contended that advanced facilities like AIIMS Jodhpur and other Ayurvedic institutions could sufficiently address his health needs, alleging that Asaram was using medical grounds as a strategy to prolong his stay out of jail.

The Gujarat High Court had earlier expressed concern over the trend of repeated interim bail extensions, warning that such allowances must not become an “endless process.” Citing a recent Supreme Court directive, the Bench suggested that a final decision on the matter may be taken soon.

With this extension, Asaram will spend Guru Purnima out of prison for the first time since his arrest nearly 12 years ago.