self-proclaimed saint asaram
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought response from the Gujarat government on the petition of jailed self-styled godman Asaram. The petition seeks suspension of the life imprisonment awarded to him by the trial court in the 2013 rape case. A bench of Justices MM Sundaresh and Arvind Kumar told the lawyer appearing for Asaram that it would consider the issue only when there were medical grounds.
Next hearing will be held on December 13
Fixing the hearing of the case on December 13, a bench of Justice Sundaresh and Justice Arvind said that we will issue notice, but will consider only the medical conditions. The Gujarat High Court on August 29 had rejected Asaram’s plea to suspend the life imprisonment awarded by a Gandhinagar court in the case till 2023. While suspending the sentence and refusing to grant him bail, the High Court had said that no case for relief was made out. The High Court had said that her arguments regarding possible delay in disposal of her appeal, her age and medical condition were not relevant to grant relief.
Was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2023
In January 2023, the sessions court had convicted Asaram in the 2013 rape case. The case was filed by a woman living in his ashram near Gandhinagar. Asaram is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan in another rape case.
The High Court had said that her arguments regarding possible delay in disposal of her appeal, her age and medical condition were not relevant to grant relief. The court also considered earlier cases involving the alleged murder of two boys at the Sabarmati Ashram and attacks on witnesses and relatives of the victims.
Asaram had given this argument
Asaram’s petition said he was the victim of a conspiracy and the rape allegations were false. It said the trial court erred in accepting the victim’s explanation for the delay of 12 years in filing the complaint. His appeal against conviction in a rape case in Jodhpur is pending before the Rajasthan High Court. In January this year, the Rajasthan High Court had rejected Asaram’s application for suspension of sentence in that case.
Input- PTI
