Jaipur: The Supreme Court has rejected Asaram’s plea seeking an extension of his medical parole. The court has directed that Asaram surrender upon the expiry of his current parole period. He must surrender by 5 pm on Tuesday.
Asaram is serving a life sentence in Rajasthan for raping a minor girl in 2013. A special POCSO court in Jodhpur convicted him of raping the teenager at his ashram and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He is lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.
On October 6, the Rajasthan High Court granted Asaram a 20-day parole, which is now expiring. Following this, his lawyer approached the Supreme Court seeking an extension of his parole on medical grounds.
The petition stated that Asaram is undergoing treatment at the government-run Dhanvantari Ayurvedic Hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. His lawyer argued that his treatment is ongoing, so he should be granted additional time.
However, the Supreme Court refused to extend his parole and directed the Rajasthan government to ensure that Asaram’s medical needs are properly addressed in prison.
Hearing on Appeal Against Conviction on November 6
The Supreme Court will hear Asaram’s appeal against his conviction on November 6. The court has directed the registry to summon the trial court records, both physically and digitally, related to the 2013 Jodhpur sexual assault case of a minor devotee.
The case is listed for further hearing on November 6 at 2 p.m.
Gujarat High Court also refused to grant interim bail
Earlier, the Gujarat High Court also rejected Asaram’s interim bail plea. He had sought temporary release for 20 days on humanitarian grounds so that he could meet his 83-year-old wife, who was undergoing treatment in the hospital.
However, the court gave him the option of seeking permission to speak to his wife through video conferencing.
Asaram was also convicted by a trial court in Gujarat in 2013 for repeatedly raping a female disciple at his Surat ashram.