The Gujarat High Court on Friday extended the interim medical bail granted by the Supreme Court to self-styled Godman and rape convict Asaram Bapu by three months..Bapu is serving live sentence after being convicted in a 2013 rape case. The Supreme Court had in January this year granted interim bail to the rape convict till March 31 on medical grounds. The High Court today extended the same till June 30.The order was passed by Justice AS Supehia after a division bench of the High Court earlier today delivered a split verdict on Bapu's plea.The matter was then referred to Justice Supehia who extended the temporary bail by three more months. "Thus on an overall appreciation of the respective orders passed by the bench including the view favourable in the applicant and the dissenting view and in light of the order of the Supreme Court, I am of the opinion that the applicant is entitled for interim bail as observed by the brother Justice Vora...It cannot be said that an 86 years old ailing person who is desperate to get himself treatment, can confine his treatment to particular therapy or particular system of medicines. Application is allowed in view of order Justice Vora."The High Court observed that the Supreme Court had not imposed any restrictions on the applicant regarding the form of treatment he chooses.Additionally, the State has not indicated any misuse of liberty by the the convict during the three-month period. Instead, he has remained inactive and has not merely been enjoying the time granted by the Supreme Court, the judge observed..The Court also noted that the State has not questioned either the convict's medical treatment or his medical condition.It further observed that the convict requires continuous monitoring, dietary supervision, and falls within the category of a high-risk patient—none of which has been disputed by the State.The Court further pointed out that the State has not argued that Asaram does not require medical or Ayurvedic treatment or that he can be sent back to prison..In January 2023, a sessions court in Gandhinagar convicted Asaram Bapu under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a 2013 rape case, for the repeated rape of a female disciple at a Surat ashram.An appeal against this trial court verdict is pending before the Gujarat High Court.Meanwhile, Asaram moved a plea before the High Court seeking his interim release from jail. In August this year, the High Court refused to suspend his life imprisonment sentence. The High Court reasoned that there was no exceptional ground made out to allow Asaram's interim release from jail while his appeal against conviction remains pending.This led Asaram to file an appeal before the apex court.The Supreme Court in January this year granted interim bail to Asaram until March 31 on medical grounds.He then approached the High Court with the present plea seeking extension of the same by three more months.A bench of Justices Ilesh J Vora and Sandeep N Bhatt delivered a split verdict on the same today morning."We have differed on this aspect. I'm in mood to allow for three months. My brother (Justice Bhatt) is dissenting...so within 10-15 minutes we will sign the order and upload it, accordingly it will be placed before the Chief Justice for referring to third judge," the Division Bench said.It then came to be heard by Justice Supehia to break the tie.
