The Gujarat High Court on Friday extended till July 7, the temporary bail granted to self-styled Godman Asaram Bapu, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with a rape case of 2013.
The Division Bench of Justice Ilesh J Vora and Justice PM Raval allowed the extension plea and listed the matter for final hearing on July 2.
Asaram’s temporary bail was set to expire on June 30.
Appearing for the applicant,Senior Advocate Shalin Mehta submitted a NALSA certified copy, stating that he fell in both categories–over 70 years old and terminally ill.
He cited two orders of the Orissa High Court, where bail was granted because appeal was not being heard.
The Counsel said following the Gujarat High Court’s March 28 verdict, granting three-month temporary bail to Asaram, 10 days were wasted because the applicant had to get an order from the Jodhpur Bench of the High Court. Asaram was finally released on April 7.
He sought extension of the temporary bail till July 7 on the grounds that in any case, Asaram had to surrender on July 7.
The High Court asked whether the applicant had filed an extension plea before the Rajasthan High Court. Mehta replied in the affirmative.
Appearing for respondent complainant, Senior Advocate BB Naik asked Advocate Mehta about the hospital where Asaram intended to get treatment.
Nail said Asaram had been moving from one hospital to another, which clearly indicated that somehow or other he wanted to stay out.
The High Court orally observed at this stage that the applicant was currently on temporary bail.
The Supreme Court had recently deprecated this practice of releasing a convict for 10-15 days or three months and extending the same again and again during the regular application, it said, adding that the practice need not be followed, it noted.
Calling it an unending process, the High Court asked Senior Advocate Mehta to think over it.
Naik further submitted that Asaram’s Panchkarma treatment was over. He said Jodhpur also had an AIIMS. There was also a very good ayurvedic hospital in Jodhpur.
Asaram could be treated in either of the two hospitals in Jodhpur, he added.
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