Gujarat High Court Rejects Asaram's Plea for Suspension of Sentence in 2013 Rape Case

The Gujarat High Court has denied jailed godman Asaram's plea for suspension of his sentence in a 2013 rape case. The court found no 'exceptional grounds' for the application and highlighted his involvement in multiple alleged crimes. Asaram is serving life imprisonment and remains incarcerated in Jodhpur for another rape case.

The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a plea by jailed self-styled godman Asaram, seeking suspension of his sentence in a 2013 rape case, stating there were no 'exceptional grounds' to warrant such relief.

In a ruling issued Thursday, Justices Ilesh Vora and Vimal Vyas noted that Asaram failed to present adequate reasons for the suspension of his sentence and denied his request for bail. The 2013 rape case convictions were handed down by a Gandhinagar court in January 2023.

Asaram, who is also imprisoned in Jodhpur for another rape case, argued his plea on grounds of age, medical conditions, and the supposed delay in his appeal, which the court dismissed as irrelevant. The court also reflected on his background, including allegations of murder and witness tampering, stressing that these factors negate his claims for sentence suspension.

Asaram's defense pointed to a conspiracy, insisting the 2013 rape allegations were fabricated and criticized the trial court for accepting a delayed complaint. His appeal against the Jodhpur conviction continues to await a decision from the Rajasthan High Court, which also denied his sentence suspension in that case in January.

(With inputs from agencies.)