The Supreme Court of India has denied bail to Asaram Bapu, a prominent spiritual leader known for his controversial influence in northern India, following his conviction for the rape of a minor devotee in 2013. In a recent ruling, the court rejected his plea for immediate release or suspension of his sentence, stating that such relief would only be considered if there was a "grave necessity" involving a threat to his life. The decision comes after a series of legal proceedings that began with the initial conviction of Asaram in 2018 and continued through appeals in higher courts.
The Supreme Court's bench, comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu, issued notices to the Rajasthan government regarding Asaram’s petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court's decision to uphold his conviction. However, the court emphasized that no interim relief—such as bail or suspension of the sentence—would be granted until the state responded to the petition. The judges noted that they would evaluate whether there was an urgent need to grant bail based on Asaram's health status. They also directed the continuation of existing medical care for Asaram in prison and allowed him the option to seek an urgent hearing if his health worsened.
Asaram's legal team, led by senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, highlighted the defendant's age and medical conditions during the hearing. Naidu argued that Asaram, now over 80 years old, suffers from multiple ailments and that his conviction might have been influenced by public sentiment fueled by social media. He expressed hope that the Supreme Court would provide a fair resolution to the case, emphasizing that it remained their last recourse for justice.
On the other side, advocates representing both the Rajasthan government and the victim opposed any form of interim relief. They underscored the severity of the crime, particularly given that the victim was a minor. Additionally, they pointed out that Asaram had already received necessary medical attention when he was hospitalized recently, and no life-threatening condition had been identified. This argument aimed to counter claims about his health being a compelling reason for bail.
The case traces back to August 2013 when a minor girl, reportedly one of Asaram's followers, was allegedly confined at his ashram in Jodhpur's Manai area and subjected to sexual assault and criminal intimidation. Following a trial, a special POCSO court in Jodhpur sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment in April 2018, convicting him under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. His conviction faced challenges in the Rajasthan High Court, where in May of this year, the court affirmed most aspects of the lower court's decision but acquitted him of charges related to gang rape and criminal conspiracy.
The Rajasthan High Court also extended similar relief to two co-accused individuals, Sharad Chandra and Sanchita Shilpi, who had previously been convicted for aiding in the alleged offense. The high court determined that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not sufficiently support the charges against these individuals, leading to their acquittal.
Asaram, dissatisfied with the partial affirmation of his conviction, has turned to the Supreme Court for further review. While the apex court has accepted his appeal, it has made it clear that any requests for bail or suspension of the sentence will be evaluated strictly based on exceptional circumstances tied to his health. The court has instructed the Rajasthan government to respond to the petition within three weeks, setting the stage for potential future developments in the case.
4 reports
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 856 days agoThe Supreme Court of India has denied requests to suspend the sentence or grant bail to Asaram Bapu, a controversial spiritual leader convicted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually assaulting a minor devotee in 2013. The court emphasized that no interim relief would be granted until it hears arguments from the Rajasthan government and assesses whether Asaram's life is in imminent danger. His legal team argued that his advanced age and medical conditions warranted bail, citing concerns about his health and the influence of social media on the trial. The Rajasthan government opposed bail, stating that Asaram had already received necessary medical care and that the case involves a minor victim. The conviction was initially upheld by a special POCSO court in 2018 and later affirmed by the Rajasthan High Court in May 2024, though some charges were modified.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the court's decision neutrally, quoting both the defense and prosecution arguments without overtly favoring either side. The framing remains balanced, focusing on legal procedures and the court's reasoning rather than taking a stance on the broader implications of the case.
Why these scores (Factual 95 · Objective 85): High factual accuracy, closely mirroring the primary source document with details on the court's refusal to suspend the sentence and conditions for bail. Objectivity is strong as it presents both sides fairly, including the state's argument against interim relief.
Scroll.inIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 806 days agoThe Supreme Court of India has refused to grant bail to Asaram Bapu, a prominent religious leader, in a 2013 case involving the rape of a minor. The court requested the Rajasthan government to respond within three weeks to Asaram's appeal against the Rajasthan High Court's May 2024 ruling, which upheld his conviction for rape but acquitted him of charges related to gangrape and sexual assault. In 2018, a sessions court in Jodhpur had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment for the 2013 incident. The Rajasthan High Court had previously upheld his conviction for rape under the Indian Penal Code, while acquitting him on other charges. The Supreme Court indicated it might consider interim bail only if there were grave medical concerns, such as a threat to his life. Asaram's legal team argued for bail based on his age, health, and claims of unfair media scrutiny. The state opposed bail, citing the involvement of a minor complainant and noting that Asaram had received necessary medical care recently. Separately, in January 2023, Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment in Gujarat for another case involving the rape of a 16-year-old girl between 2001 and 2006.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and decisions made by judicial authorities regarding a high-profile individual. It includes quotes from both the defendant's legal team and the state, providing balanced perspectives without overtly favoring either side. The framing remains neutral, relying
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 80): Accurate representation of the court's decision and procedural steps. Factual claims align with the primary source. Objectivity is slightly compromised by the inclusion of the state's opposition and the reference to 'social media trial', which introduces some bias.
Hindustan TimesIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 806 days ago No bail for Asaram now: SC seeks state’s reply on challenge to rape convictionThe Supreme Court of India has denied bail to Asaram Bapu, a controversial spiritual leader convicted of raping a minor devotee in 2013. The court agreed to review his appeal against the Rajasthan High Court's conviction but stated that no interim relief would be granted until the state responds. The bench emphasized that bail could only be considered if there were grave threats to Asaram's life. His legal team argued that his advanced age and medical conditions warranted bail, citing concerns about a 'social media trial' influencing the conviction. The state countered that Asaram had already received necessary medical care and that the case involved a minor victim. Asaram was originally sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for rape, wrongful confinement, and other offenses, and the Rajasthan High Court upheld the conviction in May 2024.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and arguments from both the defense and prosecution without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from the court and legal representatives, providing balanced perspectives on the issue.
Why these scores (Factual 90 · Objective 80): Factual content matches the primary source, detailing the court's denial of bail and the process for challenging the conviction. Objectivity is maintained through balanced reporting, though the phrase 'social media trial' suggests a potential bias towards the defendant's perspective.
The HinduIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 706 days agoThe Supreme Court of India ruled that self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, currently serving a life sentence for a 2013 rape case involving a minor, could be granted medical bail only if his life was in immediate danger. The court emphasized that routine health issues would not qualify for medical bail. During the hearing, Justice M.M. Sundresh stated that the case involves a life sentence and required special consideration due to the nature of the crime. Asaram's legal team argued that he is nearly 90 years old and suffers from severe health conditions, while the state contended that he had a history of suppressing evidence and did not deserve bail. The court allowed Asaram's lawyers to request urgent intervention if his condition worsened and ordered both the state and the victim's representatives to submit responses within four weeks.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the legal proceedings, focusing on the judicial reasoning and arguments from both sides. While the subject matter involves a high-profile individual and a serious crime, the framing remains neutral, avoiding overtly emotional or ideological language. The法院的
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 70): Factual accuracy is good, aligning with the primary source document regarding the Supreme Court's stance on medical bail. However, the article mentions 'nearly 90 years old' which slightly deviates from the primary source stating 'over 80 years of age'. Objectivity is lower due to the use of phrases
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €5/month.
Become a Supporter
India
