The Gujarat High Court has extended the medical bail of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu by three months. Asaram, convicted in a 2013 rape case and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023, had been granted interim bail on medical grounds by the Supreme Court until March 31, 2025.
The latest ruling was delivered by Justice AS Supehia after a split verdict earlier in the day by a division bench of Justice Ilesh J Vora and Justice Sandeep N Bhatt. While Justice Vora supported extending the bail, Justice Bhatt dissented, leading to the matter being referred to a third judge.
Court’s Observations
Justice Supehia, in granting the extension, noted that Asaram’s health condition required continued treatment and that the State had not alleged any misuse of bail during the previous three months. He emphasized that multiple medical reports, including those from AIIMS Jodhpur, classified Asaram as a high-risk patient due to coronary artery disease and other serious ailments.
Differing Judicial Opinions
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Justice Bhatt (Dissenting View): Opposed the bail extension, arguing that Asaram had not consistently followed up on medical treatments and had not demonstrated an urgent need for further bail.
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Justice Vora (Supporting View): Considered Asaram’s advanced age (86) and serious health conditions, ruling that specialized medical care was essential and not adequately available in prison.
Legal Representation
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For Asaram Bapu: Senior Advocate Shalin Mehta
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For the State: Advocate Hardik Dave
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For the Complainant-Victim: Senior Advocate BB Naik
Justice Supehia ultimately sided with Justice Vora’s reasoning, extending the bail for three more months while making it clear that this would not automatically entitle Asaram to further extensions.
