Gujarat High Court Issues Notice On Asaram's Plea To Relax Condition Enforcing Police Surveillance During Suspended Sentence

The Gujarat High Court issued notice on Asaram's plea seeking modification/deletion of condition requiring presence of three police officials in his vicinity, during the 6-month period wherein his life sentence has been suspended in a rape case. 

For context, on November 6 the high court had granted six-month suspension of sentence to Asaram who is convicted in a 2013 rape case by a sessions court in Gandhinagar and is serving a life sentence. While releasing him, one of the condition's imposed was that he shall not meet his followers in group and "there shall be three security personnel in the form of police officials" to be present in his vicinity.

A division bench of Justice Ilesh J Vora and Justice RT Vachhani in its order said, "Notice returnable on 01.12.2025. Learned APP waives service of notice for the respondent-State". 

During the hearing on November 21, the court while issuing notice to the State, orally said to the counsel, "so far as this attendance of police officers round the clock, would be necessary or not you think over it". 

"Yes my lord may issue notice," the State's counsel said. 

The high court had earlier this month suspended the sentence and directed that Asaram be released on interim bail on medical grounds, after noting that last month the Rajasthan High Court had suspended Asaram's sentence in view of his medical condition.

Earlier the high court had asked the State to respond on Asaram's medical condition. Asaram's counsel had earlier told the high court that a separate bail plea moved by the applicant in another rape case was going to be heard by the Rajasthan High Court on October 29.

Notably the Rajasthan High Court had last month, granted Asaram six month suspension of sentence and released him on interim bail in view of his medical condition noting that he was in a "vegetative condition" and facilities required were not available in jail. For context, a Jodhpur sessions court had sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment in April 2018 for raping a minor at his ashram in 2013.

The matter is now listed on December 1. 

Case title: ASHUMAL @ ASHARAM THAUMAL SINDHI v/s  STATE OF GUJARAT

CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (MODIFICATION/DELETION OF CONDITION) NO. 5 of 2025 In

CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION (FOR REGULAR BAIL) NO. 4 of 2025 In

R/CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 607 of 2023

Click Here To Read/Download Order