Asaram gets six-month suspension of life term from Gujarat HC

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today granted a six-month suspension of sentence to Asaram, who is serving a life term after being convicted in a 2013 rape case by a Gandhinagar sessions court.

Earlier, the Rajasthan High Court had granted Asaram a six-month suspension of sentence and released him on interim bail, citing his vegetative condition and the lack of required medical facilities in jail. Asaram had been sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2018 by a Jodhpur sessions court for raping a minor at his ashram in 2013.

A division bench comprising Justice Ilesh J Vora and Justice RT Vachhani orally remarked that they were granting the suspension along the same lines and would mould the order accordingly for six months. The High Court was hearing Asaram’s regular bail plea, with a detailed copy of the order still awaited.

Meanwhile, the State’s counsel suggested that if necessary medical facilities are unavailable in Rajasthan, Asaram could be shifted to a jail in Gujarat where proper care could be provided.

However, Senior Advocate BB Naik, representing the victim, argued that there was no immediate medical emergency. Naik opposed the temporary bail, stating that treatment could be administered without granting interim relief. DeshGujarat