06 August,2026 04:11 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The apex court observed that Asaram would be at liberty to seek bail again if there was any deterioration in his medical condition. FILE PIC
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant interim bail to self-styled godman and rape convict Asaram on medical grounds but allowed him to engage a trained caretaker of his choice for round-the-clock assistance, based on recommendations in an AIIMS medical report, news agency ANI reported.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale took note of the report submitted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on July 31, which stated that while Asaram did not require hospitalisation, he needed continuous medical assistance.
Recording the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the recommendations made in the AIIMS report would be implemented in "letter and spirit", the bench permitted Asaram to avail the services of a trained caretaker of his choice on a 24-hour basis.
"We have taken note of the letter dated July 31, 2026 by the AIIMS. On the statement of the Solicitor General that the contents of the letter will be considered in letter and spirit, accordingly the petitioner will have liberty to have assistance of a trained caretaker of his choice, on a round-the-clock basis," the bench said.
The apex court also observed that Asaram would be at liberty to seek bail again if there was any deterioration in his medical condition.
The AIIMS report was submitted following an earlier direction by the Supreme Court for a comprehensive medical examination of Asaram.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Mehta opposed the interim bail plea and alleged that Asaram had suppressed material facts by not informing the court that he had also sought parole.
Mehta informed the court that Asaram had been granted 20 days' parole by the Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday.
After considering the submissions and the AIIMS report, the Supreme Court declined to grant interim bail and instead issued directions allowing round-the-clock medical assistance through a trained caretaker.
Asaram had approached the apex court challenging the Rajasthan High Court's decision upholding his conviction for sexually assaulting a minor devotee in Jodhpur in 2013. He had also sought interim bail while his appeal against the conviction remains pending.
A trial court had convicted Asaram and two co-accused in the case. In May this year, the Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram's conviction for rape and related offences. However, it held that charges of criminal conspiracy and gang rape were not established and acquitted the accused of those offences.
(With ANI inputs)
