In a dramatic development, the Gujarat High Court granted three months of temporary bail to 87-year-old self-styled godman Asaram Bapu after a division bench was divided on his plea. Asaram Bapu, who was convicted in a 2013 rape case and is currently serving a life sentence at Jodhpur jail, had been granted temporary bail until March 31 by the Supreme Court for medical treatment. The matter then moved to the Gujarat High Court, where a split verdict on his plea for an extension of the bail led to the involvement of a third judge.

The case was referred to Justice AS Supehia by Acting Chief Justice Biren Vaishnav after Justices IJ Vora and Sandeep Bhatt delivered conflicting opinions. Justice Vora, in favor of granting bail, cited Asaram’s medical condition as a valid reason, while Justice Bhatt opposed it, highlighting that Asaram was a convicted rapist serving a life sentence and that the Supreme Court’s temporary bail was granted solely for medical reasons.

Justice Bhatt emphasized that the Supreme Court had already allowed Asaram temporary bail on medical grounds and permitted him to approach the court for further medical needs, arguing that there was no substantial reason to extend the bail. On the other hand, Justice Vora found that the medical grounds justified releasing Asaram on bail for three months, from April 1 to June 30, 2025. He included conditions, such as prohibiting Asaram from meeting followers in a group and ensuring three police officers’ supervision during the bail period. These conditions, Vora clarified, were in line with the Supreme Court’s prior order, and any future extension would be considered on its merits.

Following the split verdict, Justice Supehia, upon reviewing both judges’ opinions, granted Asaram interim bail, emphasizing the need for an elderly person in poor health to receive proper medical care without being confined to a specific treatment regimen. The court acknowledged the opinion of Asaram’s doctors, who recommended a 90-day Panchkarma therapy, and the fact that the Supreme Court had already extended temporary bail for medical reasons.

This decision underscores the complexities of balancing the health needs of aging prisoners with the severity of their crimes, especially in cases involving high-profile figures like Asaram. His legal team had requested bail for six months, citing the medical treatment required, and the High Court’s decision grants him temporary relief until June 30, 2025, under strict conditions set by the court.

AM.