The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Rajasthan government to secure an urgent and updated medical report regarding the health of convicted self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu on Friday. The 80-year-old, who is serving a jail term, is seeking interim bail on medical grounds following his conviction in a high-profile rape case.
During a crucial briefing on Friday, a bench of the top court, comprising Justice MM Sundresh and PB Varale clarified that they required absolute clarity on the physical state of the convict. It remarked, “We don’t want ourselves or yourself to be blamed,” while underscoring the high stakes of the decision.
The court’s remarks came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Rajasthan government, informed the court that medical professionals had recently advised Asaram to undergo specific modifications in his lifestyle to manage his ongoing health issues.
State to submit medical affidavit
Detailing the current ailments that Asaram had contracted, Solicitor Mehta revealed that he had been suffering from bleeding triggered by a gastrointestinal issue. However, authorities maintained that the condition is under control. Mehta told the Bench, “There is some bleeding because of some gastro problem, but that appears to be a temporary phenomenon,” assuring the court that the prisoner is receiving appropriate medication and care.
Anxious to prevent any medical crisis whilst the proceedings are underway, the judges reiterated the necessity for airtight medical assessments. They said, “We don’t want any untoward thing to happen,” and thereafter instructed the Rajasthan government to officially place the comprehensive medical data on record. The state responded by submitting that it shall file a detailed affidavit by July 20, and the next hearing shall take place at the top court on July 21.
Asaram Bapu
Conviction in rape case upheld
Opposing the interim bail plea, the Rajasthan government pointed to Asaram;s recent history of temporary release. Mehta contended that approximately 3 months ago, Asaram had travelled to prominent spiritual sites, including Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. During this period, as per the state, he was observed walking without any visible distress.
Conversely, legal counsel for Asaram argued that the octogenarian remains a ‘high-risk’ patient whose deteriorating health necessitates immediate interim bail. The legal tussle comes hot on the heels of a major ruling on May 27, when the Rajasthan High Court (HC) upheld Asaram’s conviction and life sentence for the rape of a minor, dating back to 2013. While the HC acquitted him of separate charges concerning alleged gang-rape, it maintained that the trial court’s sentence of life term for the primary offence.
The court also sustained convictions for related charges, including trafficking, criminal intimidation and sexual harassment. For the unversed, Asaram was originally sentenced in 2018 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Earlier, the SC ruled that his existing medical care must continue, granting his team the liberty to request an emergency hearing should his condition critically worsen.