Supreme Court Rejects Asaram’s Plea for Medical Parole Extension, Orders Surrender by 5 PM

Asaram is serving a life sentence in Jodhpur Central Jail following his conviction in a 2013 rape case involving a minor girl in Rajasthan. A special POCSO court in Jodhpur had convicted him of raping the teenager at his ashram.

The Rajasthan High Court had granted Asaram 20 days of parole on October 6. His counsel subsequently approached the Supreme Court, seeking an extension on medical grounds.

According to the plea, Asaram is undergoing treatment at the Government Dhanwantari Ayurvedic Hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. His counsel argued that the treatment was continuing and requested additional time for medical reasons.

The Supreme Court declined to extend the parole period but directed the Rajasthan government to ensure that his medical needs were adequately addressed.

Appeal Against Conviction Listed for November 6

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on Asaram’s appeal against his conviction for November 6 at 2 p.m.

The court has also directed its Registry to obtain the trial court records in both physical and digital formats in connection with the appeal relating to the sexual assault of a minor devotee in Jodhpur in 2013.

The hearing is scheduled to take place after the expiry of his parole on October 27.

Gujarat Case and Interim Bail Plea

In a separate case, the Gujarat High Court had earlier rejected an interim bail application filed by Asaram. He had sought 20 days of temporary release on humanitarian grounds to meet his 83-year-old wife, who is undergoing hospital treatment.

However, the court allowed him to seek permission to speak to her through video conferencing.

Asaram was also convicted by a trial court in Gujarat in a separate rape case involving a woman disciple, who alleged that he sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions at his Surat ashram in 2013.