On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined to consider the bail application of self-proclaimed spiritual leader Asaram Bapu, who had been convicted in a 2013 case involving the rape of a minor girl, as per the case Asharam @ Ashumal v State of Rajasthan.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti ruled that Bapu could file a fresh plea with the Rajasthan High Court seeking the suspension of his sentence if his appeal against the trial court's conviction was not expedited.
Following a brief hearing, Asaram's legal counsel, Senior Advocate Devadutt Kamath, requested permission to withdraw the petition, which was granted.
The bench was reviewing Bapu's appeal challenging the Rajasthan High Court's July 2022 decision to deny him bail. The High Court had also dismissed his request for the suspension of his sentence.
Asaram had been arrested on charges of raping a minor girl in August 2013, allegedly in Jodhpur's Manai village. An FIR was initially filed against him on August 20, 2013, and he was arrested on August 31, 2013, facing charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).
Subsequently, two women from Surat came forward with allegations that they had been sexually assaulted by Asaram and his son between 2002 and 2005.
The criminal trial for the Jodhpur rape case commenced in 2014 and continued for four years. In 2018, he was convicted by the trial court and sentenced to life imprisonment. His appeal against this conviction is currently pending before the High Court.
Meanwhile, citing his advanced age of approximately 83 years and multiple health issues, Asaram sought bail from the High Court. He argued that he had been in prolonged custody for over a decade. However, this plea was also rejected, leading to the appeal to the Supreme Court.
During the recent proceedings, Kamath argued for bail, emphasizing that Asaram had spent more than ten years behind bars, and the appeal against his conviction was facing delays. Nevertheless, the Court declined to entertain the plea.
TAGS: Supreme Court Asaram Bapu Convicted Bail Plea Rejection 2013 Rape Case Rajasthan High Court Legal Proceedings Life Imprisonment Minor Girl Health Issues
