The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to form a medical board to evaluate the health condition of convicted godman Asaram, who has applied for interim bail on medical grounds.
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale instructed the panel of medical experts to complete the evaluation and submit its findings within a week. The judges clarified that regular bail would not be considered unless the upcoming medical report clearly establishes a genuine health requirement.
Arguments in Court
During the proceedings, defense counsel requested that the matter be referred to the AIIMS director so a specialized team could assess whether Asaram requires hospital admission.
Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that the applicant had undertaken long-distance trips to Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya just three months ago. Mehta noted that while Asaram had previously secured bail by claiming to be in a vegetative state, he was actively moving around.
Legal Background and Prior Convictions
The Supreme Court’s order comes shortly after the Rajasthan High Court, on May 27, affirmed the life sentence handed to the octogenarian for the 2013 rape of a minor. While the high court acquitted him of specific charges related to gangrape and penetrative sexual assault under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, it upheld his primary conviction under IPC Section 376(2)(F).
In addition to the rape conviction, the high court sustained his guilt under several other statutory provisions, including IPC Sections 342 for wrongful confinement, 370(4) for trafficking, 506 for criminal intimidation, 509 for insulting the modesty of a woman, and 354(A) for sexual harassment. It also maintained his convictions under Sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Asaram was originally convicted on April 25, 2018, for sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram, receiving a life imprisonment sentence under multiple legal provisions.
