Gujarat High Court Extends Asaram Bapu's Temporary Bail In Rape Case Till July 07

The Gujarat High Court on Friday (June 27) extended the temporary bail of Asaram Bapu, who has been convicted in a 2013 rape case by a sessions court in Gandhinagar and is serving a life sentence, till July 07.

Notably, Asaram Bapu's temporary bail was set to expire on June 30.

After hearing the parties for some time, a division bench of Justice Ilesh J Vora and Justice PM Raval in its order dictated:

"Heard learned counsel...having regard to the peculiar facts of the present case, more particularly getting the certificate of NALSA which is according to submission is underway, in that view of the matter we are inclined to extend the temporary bail till July 7. Let the matter be posted on July 2 for final hearing".

During the hearing today senior advocate Shalin Mehta appearing for Asaram submitted, "NALSA certifies that I fall in both categories–over 70 years old and terminally ill. I have two orders of Orissa High Court where bail was granted because appeal was not being heard. All these documents I can place on record. Only problem is when your lordships pass the last order March 28 (granting 3 month temporary bail), 10 days were wasted because I had to get an order from Jodhpur High Court as well. So I was released only on April 7. My request is that if matter is kept on Monday so I can place documents on record and even they (State) can verify. Monday in any case I have to surrender. Lordships may give me one or two days till the matter is pending here...request is it can be extended for 1-2 days".

The bench inquired if Asaram Bapu had moved extension plea before the Rajasthan High Court to which Mehta said that the same has been moved.

Meanwhile senior advocate BB Naik appearing for respondent complainant submitted, "Let my learned friend say where he (applicant) is going to take the treatment. He is moving from hospital to hospital, which clearly indicates somehow or other he wants to stay out. In Jodhpur there is a very good hospital ayurvedic".

The court at this stage orally said, "Today you are on temporary bail. Supreme Court recently has deprecated practice, that during the regular application if we release any convict for 10 days, 15 days, 3 months suppose and then extend it again and again then that practice is not to be followed. We may decide it either way. At least think over it Because this is an unending process...".

Naik also submitted that Asaram Bapu's Panchkarma treatment is over. He further submitted that Jodhpur also has an AIIMS where he can be treated.

The Supreme Court had in January this year granted him interim bail till March 31 on medical grounds. Subsequently, Asaram moved the high court seeking extension of temporary bail. On March 28, a division bench of the high court delivered a split verdict; thereafter a third judge who heard Asaram's plea granted him three months temporary bail. Asaram Bapu has now moved the high court seeking further extension of temporary bail.

Notably, Asaram had earlier moved the high court in March seeking temporary bail for six months where his counsel had argued that the doctors were of the opinion that Asaram Bapu requires Panchkarma therapy–a 90-day course.

Recently, the Gujarat High Court granted his son Narayan Sai–convicted and sentenced to life in another rape case– five days temporary bail to meet Asaram on 'humanitarian grounds', after considering Asaram's medical condition and the fact that the father and son had not been able to meet personally.

On January 31, 2023, a sessions Court found Asaram Bapu guilty of raping his female disciple multiple times at his Ahmedabad-based Ashram and convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was convicted under IPC Sections 376(rape), 377(unnatural offences), Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 357(Assault or criminal force in an attempt wrongfully to confine a person) and 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).

The matter is kept on July 2.

Case title: ASHUMAL @ ASHARAM THAUMAL SINDHI (HARPALANI) versus STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR.

CR.MA/2/2025 IN CR.MA/1/2025 IN R/CR.A/607/2023