The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Rajasthan government on a plea by self-styled godman Asaram challenging the Rajasthan High Court's decision upholding his conviction and life sentence in the 2013 minor rape case.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu declined to suspend Asaram's sentence but issued notice to the state government, directing it to file its response within two weeks.
The apex court also directed jail authorities to continue providing medical treatment to the 80-year-old convict and indicated that his request for bail would be considered only if his health deteriorates significantly.
"We are not granting bail now. Subject to hearing the state we will consider if there is grave necessity to grant bail like in condition where his life is in danger," the bench observed orally.
Appearing for Asaram, senior advocate DS Naidu told the court that his client is over 80 years old and is suffering from multiple ailments.
On May 27, the Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram's conviction for the rape of a minor but acquitted him of charges of gangrape and aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the IPC and the POCSO Act.
The High Court set aside his conviction under IPC Section 376(D), Sections 5(G)/6 of the POCSO Act, and IPC Section 120(B), which deals with criminal conspiracy.
However, it affirmed his conviction under IPC Section 376(2)(F) for the rape of a minor, thereby retaining the life sentence imposed by the trial court.
The High Court also upheld his convictions under IPC Sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 370(4) (trafficking), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman), and 354(A) (sexual harassment), along with Sections 7/8 and 34 of the POCSO Act, and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
The court acquitted co-accused Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi and Sharat Chandra.
Asaram was convicted by a trial court on April 25, 2018, for sexually assaulting a minor student at his ashram and was sentenced to life imprisonment under various provisions of the IPC, the POCSO Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act.
(With inputs from PTI)