The Gujarat High Court granted a final one-month extension of interim bail to Asaram, convicted in multiple rape cases, on medical grounds. The court clearly stated this would be the “final extension” and refused a further three-month plea.
Ahmedabad: Today, on July 3, the Gujarat High Court decided to give self-proclaimed godman Asaram one last extension of his temporary bail for one more month.
The court clearly stated that this would be the
“final extension.”
Asaram, who is 86 years old, is currently serving a life sentence in a rape case from 2013. He has been out on bail due to health problems. The division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and P.M. Raval passed the order to extend his bail for one more month.
Earlier, the court had granted him temporary bail starting from March 28, which was supposed to end on June 30. Before that period expired, the court gave him an interim extension till July 7.
During Thursday’s court hearing, Asaram’s lawyer requested that the bail be extended for another three months. However, the High Court refused to allow that and said it would only extend the bail for one more month.
The court also made it absolutely clear that this would be the last time. In the court’s words, it would be the “final extension.” A detailed written order is still awaited.
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This legal matter began when Asaram approached the Gujarat High Court as his earlier interim bail granted by the Supreme Court on medical grounds was about to end on March 31. The Supreme Court had asked Asaram to approach the High Court if he needed further extension.
When the matter came before the division bench of the High Court, both judges gave different opinions (a split verdict).
Because of this, the case was sent to a third judge. That judge later granted Asaram three months’ temporary bail.
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Asaram was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gandhinagar court in January 2023 in this case. He is also serving another life sentence in a different rape case where he was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013.
The present case involves a woman disciple from Surat who accused Asaram of raping her multiple times between 2001 and 2006 while she was staying at his ashram located in Motera, near Ahmedabad.
The court convicted Asaram under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 376(2)(C) – rape by a person in authority,
- Section 377 – unnatural offences,
- Section 342 – wrongful confinement,
- Section 354 – assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty,
- Section 357 – assault,
- Section 506 – criminal intimidation.
The Gujarat High Court has now made it clear that Asaram’s temporary bail, which has been extended multiple times, will not be extended further. The words of the court were firm: “final extension.”
Background of the Case
Asaram Bapu, a self-styled godman, has been convicted in two separate rape cases. In the current case, he was found guilty by a Gandhinagar court in January 2023 for repeatedly raping a woman disciple from Surat.
The incidents reportedly took place between 2001 and 2006 while the victim was residing at Asaram’s ashram in Motera, near Ahmedabad. Based on the evidence and testimonies, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
He was convicted under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 376(2)(C) for rape by a person in authority, Section 377 for unnatural offences, Section 342 for wrongful confinement, Section 354 for assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty, Section 357 for assault, and Section 506 for criminal intimidation.
Additionally, Asaram is also serving another life sentence in a separate case involving the rape of a minor girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013.
Due to his deteriorating health, Asaram had initially been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, which lasted until March 31.
The apex court had instructed him to approach the Gujarat High Court if he sought an extension. The matter later came before a division bench of the High Court, which delivered a split verdict.
A third judge then granted him temporary bail for three months. This bail has since been extended twice, with the High Court now making it clear that this latest one-month extension will be the final one.
CASE TITLE:
ASHUMAL @ ASHARAM THAUMAL SINDHI (HARPALANI) vs STATE OF GUJARAT & ANR. CR.MA/2/2025 IN CR.MA/1/2025 IN R/CR.A/607/2023
Read Judgement:
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