Lekha G –
The Supreme Court has issued a notice on a petition filed by godman Asaram Bapu challenging the Rajasthan High Court order dismissing his plea for temporary suspension of sentence to avail ayurvedic treatment.
The Bench of Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari said that the Top Court has “No medical expertise” to probe into his medical condition.
Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Asaram informing the Court that the self-styled godman wanted to be treated at Prakash Deep Institute of Ayurved at Raiwala submitted that, “He is a 83-year-old person and is convicted for life imprisonment. His bail is pending in Gujarat too. There is a report from AIIMS dated May 19, which shows he was given multiple blood transfusions to increase his haemoglobin level. It was due to gastrointestinal bleeding. This man has had bleeding, has been put on blood thinners and has been put on oxygen. We need two months time to recuperate. At 80 plus, his weight loss is drastic too.”
The High Court Division Bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Devendra Kachhawaha had dismissed the application for temporary suspension of sentence and directed the district and jail administration to provide proper medical treatment at a suitable medical institution.
Asaram Bapu serving life term imprisonment at Jodhpur Central Jail accused of raping a minor girl at his ashram had approached the High Court for Ayurvedic treatment of many diseases. He was further admitted in AIIMS, Jodhpur after testing Covid positive and at the same time, he developed internal gastrointestinal bleeding leading to drop in his haemoglobin levels.
