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.
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:
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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.
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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.
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