Rajasthan HC Extends Asaram’s Interim Bail Till May 25 In Medical Plea

The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday extended the interim bail of self-styled godman Asaram till May 25 on medical grounds, providing continued relief to the 84-year-old who is serving a life sentence in a rape case involving a minor. The decision was passed by a division bench of Acting Chief Justice S.P. Sharma and Justice Sangeeta Sharma during the hearing of his bail extension plea.

The court noted that the interim relief will remain in effect either until May 25 or until the High Court delivers its judgment on Asaram’s pending criminal appeal, whichever occurs earlier. The order comes as hearings in the long-pending appeal have already been completed, with the verdict reserved by the court for a later date.

Asaram’s legal counsel, advocate Yashpal Rajpurohit, argued before the court that the High Court had concluded hearings on the appeal following directions from the Supreme Court. He submitted that since the judgment is still awaited and the accused’s medical treatment is ongoing, the interim bail should be extended to ensure uninterrupted care. The plea was opposed by the state, with Additional Advocate General Deepak Choudhary arguing against granting further extension.

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Asaram has been serving a life sentence since 2018 after being convicted of raping a minor girl. Over the years, he has repeatedly sought bail on medical grounds. In January 2025, the Supreme Court had granted him interim medical bail, which was later extended by the Rajasthan High Court in October 2025 for six months. The latest extension continues that relief as his earlier bail period was nearing expiry.

Meanwhile, separate legal proceedings involving Asaram’s ashram properties in Gujarat have also drawn attention. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court stayed immediate eviction and forfeiture actions initiated by the Gujarat government concerning land allotted to the ashram in Ahmedabad’s Motera area. The decision temporarily halted government action while the matter is reviewed further.

The land dispute relates to allegations that the ashram exceeded its original allotment terms and carried out unauthorised construction. Previous rulings had supported state action to reclaim portions of the land for public infrastructure projects, including developments near the Narendra Modi Stadium. Authorities have maintained that the ashram violated allotment conditions and encroached beyond permitted limits.

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