Jaipur, July 8
In a fresh development ahead of Guru Purnima, the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday extended the interim bail of self-styled godman Asaram until August 12, offering him another round of relief after nearly 12 years in jail.
The Division Bench of Justices Dinesh Mehta and Vineet Mathur heard Asaram’s petition seeking an extension of his medical bail and granted the relief.
This comes just days after the Rajasthan High Court had earlier granted him interim bail until July 9, and the Gujarat High Court had also provided 30 days of relief on July 3.
Asaram, 86, is currently serving a life sentence following his 2018 conviction in a 2013 rape case. He is presently out of jail on medical grounds.
Following the July 1 interim bail granted by Rajasthan High Court, Asaram left his Jodhpur ashram and reached his Motera Ashram in Ahmedabad on July 7.
Sources suggest he was initially expected to remain there until July 9. However, with the latest extension until August 12, his stay in Ahmedabad is now likely to continue longer.
Earlier, during the Gujarat High Court hearing, Asaram’s lawyer argued that the bail process had already consumed about 10 days, effectively reducing the time he spent out of jail.
The lawyer also mentioned that a certificate from the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) confirming Asaram's age and terminal illness was still awaited.