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Gujarat HC grants Asaram Bapu 6-month suspension of jail sentence in 2013 rape case

The suspension was granted on the same lines as the relief recently granted to him by the Rajasthan High Court in another rape case, on medical grounds.

2 min readVadodaraUpdated: Nov 6, 2025 03:55 PM IST

The decision comes about two months after the Gujarat HC in November suspended Asaram Bapu’s sentence in a rape case for a period of six months on medical grounds. (File Photo)

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday granted a six-month suspension of sentence to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is serving a life term awarded by the Gandhinagar sessions court in a 2013 rape case, on the same lines as the relief recently granted by the Rajasthan High Court on medical grounds.

Bapu had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the sessions court in January, 2023.

A division bench of Justice I J Vora and Justice R T Vachhani orally granted the relief during the hearing. “Granted on the same lines…,” the court said, referring to the Rajasthan High Court’s October 29 order, which had suspended Asaram’s sentence in another 2013 rape case for six months. In that case, Bapu was convicted by the Jodhpur sessions court in April, 2018.

Asaram’s lawyers told the Gujarat High Court that the Rajasthan High Court had on October 29 granted him a six-month suspension of sentence and interim bail for medical treatment. They submitted that Asaram has been in prison in connection with the Gujarat case for over 11 years and nine months.

Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Asaram, said, “The Rajasthan High Court has gone through the medical report (of Asaram) and noted that he was taken to AIIMS on September 18. The medical report states that he has been in an ‘almost vegetative state’, including heart ailments… My request is that the Lordship may consider his medical condition, age… consider a suspension of sentence. Whenever the appeal is listed, we are ready to argue.”

Opposing the plea, the state public prosecutor said that if Asaram required medical facilities not available at Jodhpur jail, he could be shifted to Sabarmati jail, where such facilities could be provided.

Senior Advocate B B Naik, representing the victim, also objected to the relief, arguing that the medical certificates on record did not state that Asaram’s condition was critical.

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The Gujarat High Court simultaneously disposed of another application filed by Asaram seeking temporary bail.

A detailed order of the court is awaited.

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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