SC denies Asaram bail, grants permission for ayurvedic treatment in jail

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea by selfstyled godman Asaram Bapu who sought suspension of his sentence in the rape case of a minor girl to avail ayurvedic treatmentA bench of Justices Indira Banerjee V Ramasubramanian and Bela M Trivedi observed that Asaram was convicted in a crime which is no ordinary crime at allEarlier the Rajasthan High Court had denied relief to him in the matter and Asaram had moved the top courtThe bench told Asarams counsel that his client will get ayurvedic treatment in jail Continuing ayurvedic treatment is not a problem Well direct the jail authorities to take care that ayurvedic treatment is granted it saidSenior advocate R Basant representing Asaram contended that only six weeks suspension was being sought owing to his failing health He requested the court to show some mercy in the matter However the bench was unmoved by this argumentAlso ReadlsquoAsaram may organise revenge killing if given bailrsquo Rape victimrsquos dad moves SCBasant submitted that there was no treatment in jail Opposing this argument senior advocate Manish Singhvi appearing for Rajasthan contended the convict was being provided all necessary treatment in jail Basant added that his client is 85yearold and is he likely to commit an offence againAsaram is serving a life term at Jodhpur Central Jail in connection with the rape of a minor girl On May 6 he had tested positive for Covid19 and was shifted to AIIMS Jodhpur According to his May 19 medical report he was stable and fit for discharge He initially moved the high court seeking bail for ayurvedic treatment but his application was dismissed The high court had directed the district and jail administration to ensure that proper treatment is provided to him at a suitable medical institution He challenged this order in the top courtThe Rajasthan government had informed the Supreme Court that he was not cooperating with the doctors at AIIMS Jodhpur with an ulterior motive of shifting of venue of his custody The state government averred that Asaram has made third attempt to get his sentence suspended under the garb of medical treatmentThe state government in an affidavit challenging the bail plea for ayurvedic medical treatment said In previous round of petitions the accused had prayed for immediate medical surgery of his ailment through allopathic method which failed and now the accused through this present petition raised his concern to get his treatment from AyurvedaThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever