The Rajasthan High Court has granted 20 days of regular parole to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for the 2013 rape of a minor girl. The court said the Rajasthan government failed to provide sufficient grounds for rejecting his parole application.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit noted that the 85-year-old has spent more than 13 years in prison and had complied with all conditions during previous periods of interim bail.
The court observed that Asaram had not violated bail conditions, attempted to flee, influenced witnesses, or created any law and order problems while he was previously released on interim bail.
Court rejects state’s objections
In its order passed on Monday, the High Court directed that Asaram be released from Jodhpur Central Jail for 20 days after furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and two solvent sureties of Rs 25,000 each.
During the hearing, the Rajasthan government informed the court that a committee headed by the Jodhpur District Collector had earlier rejected his parole application.
The state opposed his release, arguing that he could abscond if granted parole. It also cited pending criminal proceedings against him outside Rajasthan and his conviction in another case by a court in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The government further submitted that Asaram was undergoing medical treatment and had not been declared medically fit for parole. It also claimed that his release could pose a security risk to the survivor’s family.
High Court finds concerns speculative
The High Court rejected these objections, saying the concerns raised by the state and the police were speculative and not supported by concrete evidence.
The bench also clarified that Asaram’s eligibility for parole in the Rajasthan case would be governed only by the Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole Rules, 1958. It said pending cases or convictions in other states could not, by themselves, be grounds to deny parole in this matter.
The High Court had earlier, on May 27 this year, upheld Asaram’s conviction and life sentence in the 2013 sexual assault case.
Supreme Court hearing on medical bail continues
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is separately hearing Asaram’s plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the court was informed that a medical board from AIIMS had concluded that Asaram does not require hospitalisation but does need round-the-clock medical assistance.
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale has scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 6.
