Gujarat High Court Issues Notice On Asaram Bapu's Regular Bail Plea In Rape Case

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday (August 21) issued notice on application for regular bail of Asaram Bapu, who has been convicted and sentenced to life by Gandhinagar court in a 2013 rape case. 

The court issued notice to both the prosecutrix and the State. 

Notably the high court had on Tuesday extended his temporary bail till September 3, after noting that the Rajasthan High Court had extended his interim bail (in a separate case rape) till August 29, while directing his medical examination in the meantime. 

During the hearing today on his regular bail plea, a division bench of Justice Ilesh J Vora and Justice PM Raval in its order dictated:

"Let advance notice be served upon Ekhant Ahuja learned counsel who has been appointed along with senior counsel BB Naik on behalf of private respondent . Registry shall show their name in cause list henceforth. Learned APP waives service of notice for and on behalf of the State". 

When the Asaram's counsel requested for clubbing of the bail matters, the court orally said, "No we cannot club together. You are riding on three horses at the same time. Rajasthan High Court, temporary here and regular...You are on bail today why unnecessarily club together all the matters and confuse the court". 

Notably, the Rajasthan High Court has directed Asaram Bapu's medical check up  "to consider the medical condition by Medical Board to be constituted by Medical Superintendent or any other competent authority" of the concerned hospital. 

This board is to report with regards to Asaram's medical condition, whether requires hospitalization or continuous medical attendance or not.

The Gujarat High Court had thereafter in its August 19 order noted, "The said report is yet to be presented before the Hon'ble High Court of Rajasthan at Jodhpur...We therefore, without expressing any opinion further deem it fit that the present matter for extension of temporary bail be kept on 03.09.2025 and till then, the temporary bail of the applicant is extended". 

Case title: ASHUMAL @ ASHARAM v/s STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR. 

CRIMINAL MISC. APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL) NO. 4 of 2025 In R/CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 607 of 2023