Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Mar 29: The Gujarat High Court has extended the temporary bail of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu by another three months, citing the need for ongoing medical treatment.

The 86-year-old, serving a life sentence in Jodhpur Central Jail for rape, was earlier granted interim bail due to heart-related ailments and other age-related health issues. The Supreme Court had initially allowed his release until March 31, on medical grounds, which has now been extended further by the Gujarat High Court.

Once a revered spiritual leader with millions of followers, Asaram has been entangled in legal battles for over a decade. He was first arrested in 2013 after a minor girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur accused him of sexual assault at his Jodhpur ashram. In 2018, he was convicted under the POCSO Act and sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2023, a Gandhinagar court handed him another life sentence for raping a woman at his Gujarat ashram between 2001 and 2006. Despite repeated bail pleas being rejected, the Supreme Court granted him interim relief strictly for medical reasons. However, he remains barred from meeting his followers to prevent any misuse of his bail period.

Over the years, Asaram has secured multiple temporary releases, including a brief parole in 2018 and another in December 2024. Given the high-profile nature of the case and potential threats to witnesses, security around the survivor’s family has been intensified. Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.