Key Highlights:
- Extended Parole Approved: Rajasthan High Court extends Asaram Bapu’s parole for 17 days, citing health treatment.
- Destination: He will undergo Ayurvedic treatment at Madhavbagh Hospital, Pune, from December 15.
- Legal Context: Serving a life sentence for the 2013 rape of a minor, Asaram remains under strict parole conditions.
- Transport Arrangements: Asaram will travel via air ambulance for the treatment, returning to Jodhpur by January 2, 2025.
Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has granted controversial spiritual leader Asaram Bapu a 17-day parole for medical treatment at an Ayurvedic hospital in Pune, Maharashtra. The High Court bench comprising Justice Dinesh Mehta and Justice Vinod Mathur approved his petition, providing temporary relief amidst his life sentence in a 2013 rape case.
Court’s Decision and Parole Conditions
- The parole includes 15 days for treatment and 2 days for travel.
- Asaram will travel directly from Jodhpur’s Arogya Ayurveda Hospital to Madhavbagh Hospital in Pune on December 15 via air ambulance.
- His return to Jodhpur Central Jail is scheduled for January 2, 2025.
- The High Court instructed the police-administration to strictly adhere to previously set parole conditions.
Legal Battle for Parole
Asaram’s lawyer, Kaluram Bhati, filed the petition seeking medical treatment in Pune, arguing that advanced Ayurvedic care was necessary. The High Court initially granted treatment in Jodhpur but later extended the parole for treatment in Pune.
Timeline of Events Leading to Asaram’s Imprisonment
- Crime Committed: On August 14-15, 2013, Asaram raped a minor girl from his Gurukul at his Jodhpur ashram.
- FIR Filed: A zero FIR was lodged in Delhi’s Kamla Nagar Police Station and later transferred to Jodhpur.
- Arrest: Jodhpur Police arrested Asaram from his Chhindwara ashram on August 31, 2013.
- Conviction: Sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment, Asaram has been lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail since September 2013.
Health Treatment Amid Controversy
While the court’s decision to grant parole is legally justified on medical grounds, it has sparked debates given the nature of Asaram’s crimes and his life sentence. His treatment at Madhavbagh Hospital is scheduled to begin immediately after his transfer from Jodhpur on December 15, and he will remain under strict police supervision throughout.
