The Supreme Court has refused to grant interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram (Ashumal), allowing him to have an assistance-trained care taker of his choice, on a round-the-clock basis.

Previously, the Court was informed that experts from AIIMS have suggested that he does not require hospitalisation for treatment but needs round-the-clock medical assistance.

The Court had asked the director of AIIMS to constitute a medical board to assess the condition of Asaram.

The Court was also apprised that the Rajasthan High Court had already granted him parole on August 3, 2026. 

The Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice PB Varale ordered, "Heard Learned Counsels for the parties...We have taken note of the report dated 31.07.2026 filed by the AIIMS. On the statement of the Learned Solicitor General that the contents of the letter will be considered in letter and spirit, accordingly, the petitioner will have liberty to have an assistance-trained care taker of his choice, on a round-the-clock basis...Accordingly, the application stands adjourned with liberty to make a mention in case the health of the petitioner deteriorates. "

 Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the State of Rajasthan

The Court perused a medical report submitted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The report concluded that while Asaram did not require hospitalization, he required round-the-clock medical attention and care.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the State was willing to comply with the recommendations of the AIIMS medical panel. SG Mehta stated that the petitioner could choose a trained caretaker of his choice to assist him inside the prison. The petitioner’s counsel argued that an expert medical professional was required given the multiple ailments suffered by the convict, adding that managing such care within jail premises presented practical difficulties.

The SG further brought to the Court’s attention that the petitioner had suppressed relevant facts by moving an application for parole before the High Court without disclosing the pendency of the present petition before the Supreme Court.

SG Mehta highlighted that the Rajasthan High Court had granted 20-day parole to Asaram on health grounds and considering his prolonged incarceration and past conduct.

While the counsel for Asaram contended that the parole application was filed much earlier and was not granted strictly on health grounds, the Bench took note of the State's submission regarding the non-disclosure.

Refusing to grant interim bail or pass any further substantive orders at this stage, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the Solicitor General that the AIIMS medical report would be strictly implemented. The Bench held that the petitioner would be at liberty to engage a trained caretaker of his choice on a 24/7 basis.

The Court formally adjourned the application, granting the petitioner liberty to mention the matter before the court only if his medical condition deteriorates.

The Rajasthan High Court on August 03, 2026, granted the first parole to Asharam and ordered his release, considering his age and the fact that he has already served more than thirteen years of incarceration.

The High Court observed, "We have carefully considered the submissions and find that the petitioner has undergone thirteen years, one month and twenty four days incarceration and during this period, earlier also he has been released on interim bail; there is no case of misuse of bail on his part, nor there has been any instance of him causing danger to the society or to any of the witnesses. The apprehensions are, therefore, all misleading and a figment of the imagination, without any basis."

On June 30, 2026, the Court had issued notice in the Special Leave Petition assailing the judgment passed by the Rajasthan High Court by which it modified the Trial Court's judgment by setting aside Asha Ram’s convictions for criminal conspiracy, common intention, and gang rape under Sections 120B, 34, and 376D of the Indian Penal Code, alongside Sections 5(g)/6 of the POCSO Act, owing to a total failure by the prosecution to prove a prior meeting of minds or a common design.

"We don't want any untoward thing to happen," the Court had previously said while asking the Rajasthan government to take proper instructions about the health condition.

The High Court judgment arose out of an incident on the night of August 15, 2013, at Asaram's Manai village ashram near Jodhpur. A Class XII minor student at his Chhindwara Gurukul had been brought there by her parents on the counsel of hostel warden Shilpi and co-accused Sharad, who claimed the girl was possessed by evil spirits and that only Asaram could cure her through "ghost healing." Asaram summoned the victim into his room, forced her parents to stay outside to meditate, and subjected her to a penetrative sexual assault lasting over an hour.

While the High Court had acquitted Asaram of criminal conspiracy (Section 120B) and gang rape (Section 376D) due to a lack of evidence showing a prior meeting of minds with his co-accused, it rigorously upheld his conviction for individual penetrative sexual assault of a minor.

The High Court had affirmed his primary sentence of rigorous life imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life under Section 376(2)(f) of the Indian Penal Code and the POCSO Act, observing that "the shadow of his frailty cannot justify ignoring the victim's voice."

Earlier, Asaram was convicted on April 25, 2018, for sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram and was sentenced to life imprisonment under multiple provisions of the IPC, the POCSO Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act.

Cause Title: Asha Ram @Ashumal v. State of Rajasthan [SLP(Crl) No.11761/2026]

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