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Gujarat High Court has allowed Narayan Sai, lodged in Surat jail, to meet his father Asaram, lodged in Jodhpur jail. The court has given permission to meet only for 4 hours. Some conditions have also been imposed. There will be a meeting between the two after 11 years.
Subodh Kumar Mishra PTI, AhmedabadFri, 18 Oct 2024 05:17 PM share
Gujarat High Court has allowed Narayan Sai, lodged in Surat jail, to meet his father Asaram, lodged in Jodhpur jail. The court has given permission to meet only for 4 hours. Some conditions have also been imposed. The court has allowed Asaram to meet on humanitarian grounds due to his deteriorating health. There will be a meeting between the two after 11 years.
The Gujarat High Court on Friday allowed rape convict Narayan Sai to meet his father Asaram, lodged in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur jail, for four hours on humanitarian grounds due to his deteriorating health. Narayan Sai is currently lodged in Surat jail on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting a woman at his father’s ashram between 2002 and 2005. His father Asaram is also serving life imprisonment in Jodhpur Central Jail on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.
A division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and SV Pinto rejected Sai’s request for 30-day temporary bail to meet his father. The court allowed her to meet Asaram for four hours in Jodhpur jail on humanitarian grounds, under police protection and at her own expense.
Seeking 30 days bail for Sai, his lawyer had claimed that Asaram is 86 years old and is suffering from several life-threatening diseases. The health condition of the applicant’s father is very worrying. He has suffered heart attacks several times during his stay in jail. His condition is worsening with every passing moment. Pleading for relief, the lawyer said that Sai is the only son of Asaram. He has not been able to meet his father for more than 11 years. It has been argued in Sai’s application that in view of the extremely serious health condition of his father, his physical presence is necessary to make proper arrangements for his better treatment.
Sai’s counsel further submitted that if the Court is not inclined to release the applicant on temporary bail, then orders should be made to personally meet his father at the applicant’s expense. It has been said in the petition that the applicant is ready to bear all the expenses. He will even be airlifted to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan with police protection. The petition states that he will follow all the terms and conditions of the court.
The High Court said in the order that considering humanitarian grounds and the fact that the applicant has not met his father for the last 11 years, we consider it appropriate to direct that Sai be taken to Jodhpur jail by air along with the police. . It states that that escort will include an Assistant Commissioner of Police, an Inspector of Police, two head constables and two constables at the cost and expense of the applicant.
The High Court bench asked Sai to deposit Rs 5 lakh in the government treasury for the said expenditure. The order states that after the applicant deposits the amount, arrangements for transportation will be made within seven days. The applicant will be taken directly from Lajpore Central Jail in Surat to Jodhpur jail, where he will be kept during a four-hour visit. Jodhpur Jail Authority will not allow any other person like sister, mother or others to meet the applicant during this period. The bench directed that no person other than the applicant would be present during the meeting between father and son.
