Gujarat HC modifies bail condition of police escort for Asaram Bapu during suspension of sentence

During the hearing on Monday, the state public prosecutor submitted that the condition of the police escort must continue and that the state was willing to provide the escort at the ‘cost of the state’.

The HC stated that the other conditions imposed on Asaram Bapu – of not meeting followers in groups or gatherings and delivering public addresses would continue to prevail. (File Photo)

The Gujarat High Court Monday modified the bail condition of having three police officials in the vicinity of self-styled spiritual leader Asaram Bapu during the period of the six-month suspension of sentence in a rape case.

In an oral order, Justice I J Vora and Justice R T Vachhani considered the application made by Asaram Bapu, seeking deletion of the condition from the bail order. The HC stated that the other conditions imposed on Asaram Bapu – of not meeting followers in groups or gatherings and delivering public addresses would continue to prevail.

The oral order of the HC, made available on Monday, states, “We have carefully examined the past conduct of the applicant herein and order passed by the Jodhpur Bench of Rajasthan High Court, while releasing the convict on temporary bail. In such circumstances, we deem it fit to delete the condition of round-the-clock presence of the security personnel and, therefore condition… is required to be modified… In other words, except presence of police personnel, other conditions imposed by this court while granting temporary bail… remain unaltered and required to be followed scrupulously by the convict.”

The oral order of the court notes that the bail granted to Asaram had condition that “he shall not meet his followers in group and there shall be three security personnel in the form of police officials to be present in the vicinity of the applicant and the police official will not interfere with the medical treatment, meeting with any individual and in a normal or lawful conduct, as directed earlier by the Supreme Court… The applicant shall produce his medical reports to this Court regarding the treatment, which he will receive during the period of six months.”

During the hearing on Monday, the state public prosecutor submitted that the condition of the police escort must continue and that the state was willing to provide the escort at the “cost of the state”. When Asaram Bapu’s counsel submitted to the court that some of the godman’s followers were living in his ashram and may like to meet him, the court orally remarked, “Don’t stretch it… we don’t want to review our judgement.”

In November, the high court had suspended Asaram Bapu’s sentence in a rape case for a period of six months and released him on interim bail in view of his medical condition. On October 29, the Rajasthan High Court had similarly suspended the sentence in a case in Rajasthan.