The Gujarat High Court has refused to grant 20 days of temporary bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who sought release from custody to visit his ailing wife undergoing treatment at a hospital in Ahmedabad.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Gita Gopi and LS Pirzada relied on the latest medical assessment of Asaram’s 83-year-old wife while dismissing the request.
The medical report placed before the Court indicated that she had responded well to treatment and could be discharged within two to three days, subject to her clinical condition.
“When the patient has responded well to the treatment and both the doctors have opined that she would be discharged within the next two to three days, we do not find any reason to allow the application,” the Court observed.
Asaram is currently lodged in Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan.
Although the Court declined temporary bail, it permitted him to approach the jail authorities for permission to communicate with his wife through video conferencing.
The plea had been moved after Asaram’s wife was admitted to a hospital in Naroda on account of her reported critical condition. On September 29, the High Court had directed the local police to verify the circumstances surrounding her illness.
During the hearing, Advocate Ashish Dagli submitted that Asaram, aged 87, wanted temporary release to meet his wife and had complied with conditions imposed during earlier periods of temporary release. He also stated that Asaram would remain in Rajasthan after the proposed visit and was prepared to bear the expenses involved.
The State opposed the request. Public Prosecutor Hardik Dave argued that the circumstances did not disclose any immediate urgency requiring temporary bail.
The Court also took note of a police report indicating that Asaram’s wife was being attended to by relatives and disciples, while her personal doctor and two treating doctors were available at the hospital.
In light of the medical report and the surrounding circumstances, the Bench declined to grant the requested temporary release.
Asaram is serving a life sentence imposed by a Gandhinagar court in a rape case involving a woman disciple. He is also serving another life sentence in Rajasthan following his conviction in a case involving the rape of a minor in 2013.
The latest plea is part of a series of attempts by Asaram to secure temporary release from custody on medical and other grounds. Earlier in September, the Gujarat High Court had rejected another request for 20 days of temporary bail on medical grounds.
That decision followed a Supreme Court order which had declined medical bail but allowed Asaram to approach the High Court again if his medical condition deteriorated.