SC issues notice on plea by Asaram Bapu seeking interim bail for Ayurveda medical treatment

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a plea of self-styled godman and life convict Asaram Bapu challenging a Rajasthan High Court order dismissing his plea for temporary suspension of sentence to undergo treatment at an ayurvedic centre near Haridwar in Uttarakhand.

A vacation bench of Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari issued the notice after hearing the arguments of senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the petitioner. The court has given one week to reply to the notice.

The bench also commented that "we are not medical experts" to delve into the medical condition of the self-styled godman.

The counsel submitted his client is an 83-year-old person, and is convicted for life imprisonment and his bail is pending in Gujarat too. Luthra cited a medical report from AIIMS dated May 19, which shows he was given multiple blood transfusions to increase his haemoglobin level and it was due to gastrointestinal bleeding.

He said the octogenarian had been given blood thinners when he was bleeding at AIIMS Jodhpur and emphasised the need for holistic treatment.Asaram is serving a life term at Jodhpur Central Jail in connection with the rape of a minor girl.

On May 5, he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was shifted to AIIMS, Jodhpur.He was also convicted in a 2002 rape case and sentenced to 20 years in prison.(UNI)