Supreme Court allows Asaram to hire caretaker, denies interim bail for now

The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 6, 2026) declined to grant interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in a 2013 case of sexually assaulting a minor. However, the court permitted him to engage a trained caretaker of his choice for round-the-clock assistance.

A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale kept Asaram's plea for interim bail on health grounds pending. The court also granted him liberty to mention his case if his health deteriorates, allowing him to seek urgent hearing at that stage.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that Asaram had suppressed from the court the fact that his counsel had earlier moved an application for parole. Responding to this, Asaram's counsel said the parole application was filed much earlier and that it was not granted on health grounds.

The Rajasthan High Court had earlier granted 20-day parole to Asaram, noting that the State government failed to justify its decision to reject his parole application. The High Court had granted the relief to the 85-year-old Asaram, who is lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, taking into account the duration of his incarceration and his conduct during previous periods of interim release.

The Supreme Court was earlier informed that experts from AIIMS have suggested that Asaram does not require hospitalisation but needs round-the-clock medical assistance. On July 21, the apex court had directed AIIMS to constitute a medical board to assess Asaram's condition.

Asaram's legal troubles stem from a complaint filed in 2013 by a minor girl, who alleged that she was sexually assaulted at his ashram. The trial court convicted him on April 25, 2018, and sentenced him to life imprisonment under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act.

On May 27, 2026, the Rajasthan High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence awarded to Asaram. However, the High Court acquitted him of charges related to gangrape and penetrative sexual assault on a child under the erstwhile IPC and the POCSO Act. It upheld his conviction under IPC Section 376(2)(F) pertaining to rape of a minor, thereby retaining the life sentence imposed by the trial court.

The High Court also upheld convictions under several other provisions, including Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 370(4) (trafficking), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and 354(A) (sexual harassment) of the IPC, along with Sections 7 and 8 of the POCSO Act and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Following the High Court's verdict, Asaram moved the Supreme Court challenging his conviction. On June 30, the apex court sought a response from the Rajasthan government on his plea. In his latest plea, Asaram had sought interim bail citing his advanced age and health condition.

The Supreme Court's order allows Asaram to have a trained caretaker of his choice, addressing one of his health-related concerns. The central issue of interim bail, however, remains pending, with the court keeping the matter open for mention in case of any deterioration in his health.