SC refuses to entertain Asaram's plea to suspend sentence on medical grounds to undergo treatment

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea by self-styled Godman Asaram Bapu for suspension of sentence due to his deteriorating health.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, however, allowed him to approach the High Court.

As the bench made it clear that it was not inclined to consider the instant petition, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Asaram submitted that an appropriate application will be moved before the high court.

The bench said that if any such application is moved, it would be considered.

The court also said the high court may take up the hearing of the main appeal expeditiously.

It also allowed Asaram to approach Rajasthan High Court with his plea for ayurvedic treatment in police custody.

The bench, without commenting on merits, in view of his acceptance of the state's proposal to allow treatment in police custody, said Asaram Bapu should be at liberty to approach the high court to seek treatment at an Ayurvedic Hospital.

Asaram, convicted of rape of a minor, filed the petition in the apex court after the high court rejected his plea observing that a law-and-order situation may arise if he is permitted to undergo treatment "on his own" instead of in "police custody”.

He cited fatal medical emergency and rapidly deteriorating health conditions in support of his plea suspension of sentence.

The plea challenged the January 11 order passed by the High Court of Rajasthan at Jodhpur, dismissing his application for suspension of sentence, filed on medical grounds and also on the ground that he is innocent and has already undergone more than 11 years in imprisonment.

It claimed that at the midnight of February 21, 2024, the petitioner suffered massive pain in his chest and was rushed to AIIMS Jodhpur, in third such instance within a mere four-month period.