Rajasthan High Court Extends Asaram Bapu’s Interim Bail Till August 12 In Rape Case, Days After Gujarat High Court’s Final Extension Order

The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday (July 8) extended the interim bail of Asaram Bapu till August 12, who is serving a life sentence in connection with a 2013 rape case.

The division bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Vineet Kumar Mathur passed the order. The High Court had earlier on July 1 extended Asaram Bapu’s interim bail till July 9. Previously on April 7 the court had extended his interim bail till July 1 in light of his medical condition and other relevant factors.

On Asaram Bapu’s medical condition the high court had in its April 7 order noted, “So far as medical condition of the applicant is concerned, theHigh Court of Gujarat has considered the same deeply and we donot wish to intake the same exercise afresh and take view otherthan what has been taken by the High Court of Gujarat”.

Notably on July 3, the Gujarat High Court extended Asaram Bapu’s temporary bail for one month who has been convicted in a separate 2013 rape case by a sessions court in Gandhinagar where he is also serving a life sentence. The Gujarat High Court had however clarified that further prayer for extension of temporary bail will not be entertained on medical grounds.

Asaram Bapu, who is 86-years-old, was convicted in 2018 in a 2013 rape case following which he had been serving a life sentence, and was presently out of jail on medical grounds. The present application seeking extension of bail was also filed on the medical grounds.