Gujarat HC Extends Asaram’s Temporary Bail Till June 15; Rajasthan HC Grants Limited Interim Relief Pending Appeal Judgment

May 1, 2026 : The Gujarat High Court has extended the temporary bail granted to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu till June 15, in connection with his conviction in a 2013 rape case by a Gandhinagar sessions court.

The extension was granted on medical grounds, with the Court noting that no untoward incident occurred during the period he was previously out on bail. Earlier, on November 6, 2025, the High Court had granted him six months’ temporary bail, also on medical grounds. The present order was passed on his application seeking continuation of that relief.

In a parallel development, the Rajasthan High Court on April 29 extended Asaram’s interim bail either till May 25 or until pronouncement of judgment in his pending criminal appeal, whichever is earlier. The appeal challenges his 2018 conviction by a Jodhpur Sessions Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for raping a minor at his ashram in 2013.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sangeeta Sharma observed that judgment in the appeal has already been reserved by a coordinate Bench. Taking into account that final arguments and written submissions had been completed, the Court directed that existing bail conditions would continue mutatis mutandis and granted a limited extension.

The Bench also referred to its earlier order dated October 29, 2025, which had granted interim bail for six months on medical grounds, noting that the convict was in a vegetative condition and that adequate medical facilities were unavailable in prison.

Senior Advocate Devadutt Kamat, appearing for Asaram, submitted that since the appeal has been fully heard and judgment may take time, continuation of interim bail is justified. He also relied on the liberty granted earlier to seek further relief if the appeal was not decided within the stipulated period.

Opposing the plea, Additional Advocate General Deepak Choudhary urged the Court to restrict any extension to a short duration, not exceeding one month.

Considering the stage of proceedings and submissions made, the Rajasthan High Court allowed the application and disposed of the plea seeking extension of suspension of sentence and interim bail.