New Delhi, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of an AIIMS medical report stating that rape convict Asaram Bapu does not require hospitalisation but needs round-the-clock assistance from trained caregivers due to multiple health conditions.
A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale examined the report submitted by the AIIMS medical board during the hearing of Asaram’s plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds.
“The first part of the report says that hospitalisation is not required. Then it talks about round-the-clock (medical attention). We will keep it (for hearing) the day after,” the bench observed.
The matter was adjourned to Thursday after the court was informed that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Rajasthan government, was unavailable.
According to the AIIMS report, Asaram suffers from several medical conditions, including coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, chronic hyponatremia, thalassemia and recurrent gastrointestinal episodes involving blood loss.
However, the medical board concluded that he does not require admission to a hospital and can be managed with continuous assistance from trained caregivers.
The Supreme Court had earlier, on July 21, directed the AIIMS Director to constitute a specialised medical board to conduct a detailed examination of Asaram’s health condition and submit a report on whether hospitalisation was necessary or whether treatment through periodic medication would be sufficient.
The court had passed the order after recording agreement between the parties on the need for an independent medical assessment before considering Asaram’s interim bail plea.
Appearing for Asaram, senior advocates Dama Seshadri Naidu and Devadatt Kamat had sought the formation of a specialised AIIMS medical team to evaluate his condition.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Rajasthan government, opposed the plea and questioned the medical claims, pointing out that Asaram had recently travelled to Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath despite claiming serious health issues.
Earlier, on June 30, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Rajasthan government on Asaram’s special leave petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s decision upholding his conviction and life sentence in a 2013 minor rape case. The court, however, had refused interim relief at that stage.
Asaram has challenged the Rajasthan High Court’s May 27 order affirming his conviction and life imprisonment awarded by a Special POCSO Court in the case involving sexual assault of a minor student.
After the High Court verdict, Asaram, who had been out on interim medical bail, surrendered before Jodhpur Central Jail on May 28 following a medical examination.
The case relates to allegations that a minor student from Asaram’s Chhindwara Gurukul was sexually assaulted inside his cottage at Manai Ashram on August 15, 2013. The Special POCSO Court in Jodhpur convicted him on April 25, 2018, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Asaram is also serving another life sentence in a separate sexual assault case involving a woman disciple at his Gandhinagar ashram in Gujarat.
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