Asaram’s interim bail plea rejected by Supreme Court in rape case

Asaram has been in jail since August 2013 facing rape charges. (File photo)

Asaram, the self-styled godman who is being held for rape charges, was denied interim bail by the Supreme Court on Thursday, reported news agency ANI. The apex court has also ordered the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to constitute a medical board to assess Asaram’s medical condition. The court has asked the board to submit their evaluation in ten days.

On Tuesday, Rajasthan High Court had rejected Asaram’s bail plea citing that the case had reached its “fag end” and thus it was not “appropriate” to grant him a bail. This was his ninth regular bail application to be rejected. In 2013, a minor girl had alleged that Asaram had sexually assaulted her at his ashram in Jodhpur. The self-styled godman was subsequently arrested on August 31, 2013, and has been in jail since then. Asaram’s counsel had sought bail citing that the accused has been suffering several ailments since he was arrested and the case was taking too long.

Earlier this week, Niraj Kumar, an accused in the murder of key witness Akhil Gupta, was sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Reportedly, during his interrogation, Kumar said that he provided arms and other goods to sharp shooter Kartik Haldar to kill Gupta. Along with Gupta, two other witnesses in the rape case against Asaram were killed. The victim’s father too claimed receiving death threats.