The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to self-proclaimed godman Asaram Bapu on medical grounds in a 2013 rape case. The court, however, has imposed strict conditions on his release. Asaram Bapu, who has been in jail since 2013, has been facing charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl at his ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
The court directed that Asaram not attempt to tamper with the evidence and not meet his followers after he is released on interim bail. The court also directed that Asaram not leave the city of Ahmedabad without prior permission.
Asaram Bapu has been seeking bail on medical grounds for some time now. His lawyers had argued that he was suffering from various ailments and required specialized medical treatment. The prosecution had opposed the bail plea, arguing that there was a risk of Asaram Bapu influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence.
The Supreme Court, after considering the medical reports and the arguments of both sides, granted interim bail to Asaram Bapu. The court, however, made it clear that any violation of the bail conditions would lead to the immediate cancellation of his bail.
Asaram Bapu rape case
The 2013 rape case against Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani, known as Asaram Bapu, is among the most notable cases in contemporary Indian history. In 2013, a 16-year-old girl from Shahajahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, alleged that Asaram raped her at his ashram located in Manai village close to Jodhpur during the night of August 15. He was transported to Jodhpur Central jail that same month, from which he submitted several bail applications. Asaram Bapu was a prominent spiritual figure who garnered a substantial following. Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was convicted of raping a Surat-based woman at an ashram in Gujarat in 2013.
