The Rajasthan High Court has granted a 20-day parole to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a 2013 minor sexual assault case. The court allowed the temporary release after observing that the state government had failed to provide sufficient justification for rejecting his parole application. The bench noted that there was no evidence indicating that Asaram had violated previous release conditions, attempted to avoid legal proceedings or created any law and order issues during earlier periods of interim release. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit.

The court granted relief to the 85-year-old inmate, who is currently lodged at Jodhpur Central Jail. While considering the parole plea, the judges took note of the length of his imprisonment, his conduct in custody and his record during previous temporary releases granted by courts. According to the court’s observations, Asaram has already spent around 13 years, one month and 24 days in prison. The bench highlighted that he had earlier been granted interim bail on several occasions and that authorities had not placed any material before the court showing that he misused those opportunities.

The court also noted that there was no record of him intimidating witnesses, interfering with the legal process or causing any public disturbance during his previous releases. The High Court observed that the state government’s decision to reject Asaram’s parole request lacked adequate supporting evidence. The authorities had opposed the application, raising concerns linked to the nature of the offence and other factors. However, the court said the government had not been able to establish any specific risk or demonstrate that granting temporary release would create a threat to public safety or affect the ongoing legal process. In its order dated August 3, the court approved Asaram’s first regular parole and directed that he be released for 20 days after completing the required formalities.

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The court ordered him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 along with two solvent sureties of Rs 25,000 each. The temporary release will remain subject to conditions imposed by the authorities, including compliance with legal requirements and returning to custody after the completion of the parole period. Asaram was convicted in 2018 by a Jodhpur court for sexually assaulting a minor girl in a case registered in 2013. He was awarded a life sentence following the conviction, which was later challenged through legal proceedings. The case had received widespread attention because of Asaram’s public profile, large number of followers and the seriousness of the allegations involved.

The parole order does not change Asaram’s conviction or reduce his sentence. Parole is a temporary release mechanism granted to prisoners under specific conditions, generally based on factors such as conduct during imprisonment, compliance with previous releases and applicable legal guidelines. Courts examine such requests independently while balancing the rights of prisoners with concerns regarding public safety and the interests of victims. The Rajasthan High Court’s decision has drawn attention because of the high-profile nature of the case and Asaram’s controversial public image.

However, the court’s ruling was based on the legal assessment of his parole eligibility, previous conduct and the absence of evidence suggesting misuse of temporary freedom. The order highlights the judicial process involved in parole decisions, where authorities are required to provide specific reasons and supporting evidence when opposing temporary release requests. While the state had raised objections, the High Court concluded that the available material did not establish sufficient grounds to deny parole in this instance. Asaram will now remain outside prison for 20 days before returning to complete his sentence as directed by the court.

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