The Gujarat High Court on Thursday extended the temporary bail of self-styled godman and rape convict Asaram by one more month, categorically stating that this would be the “final extension” granted to him.
A division bench comprising Justices Ilesh Vora and P.M. Raval passed the order while hearing Asaram’s plea for an extension of bail on medical grounds. The 86-year-old, currently serving life imprisonment in a 2013 rape case, had earlier secured temporary bail from the Supreme Court, which expired on March 31. The apex court had directed him to approach the Gujarat High Court for any further relief.
Following a split verdict from the high court on his initial application, the matter was referred to a third judge who granted Asaram three months’ temporary bail. As the relief was set to expire on June 30, the court had granted him an interim extension till July 7. During Thursday’s hearing, Asaram’s lawyer requested an additional three-month extension, but the court allowed only one more month and made it clear that no further extensions would be entertained. A detailed order is awaited.
Asaram is serving two life sentences — one awarded in January 2023 by a Gandhinagar court for repeatedly raping a woman disciple from Surat between 2001 and 2006 at his Motera ashram, and another in Rajasthan, where he was convicted in 2018 for the rape of a minor girl at his Jodhpur ashram in 2013.
In the Gujarat case, Asaram was convicted under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376(2)(C) (rape), 377 (unnatural offences), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354, 357, and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Despite his advanced age and claimed health conditions, the high court has now signaled that his bail period will not be extended any further.
