Coronavirus: Gujarat HC refuses to grant temporary bail to Asaram Bapu

The Gujarat High Court has refused temporary bail to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu who is facing trial in a rape case before a Sessions Court in Gandhinagar. (Asharam vs State).The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi after the proceedings were conducted through video-conferencing. .Asaram had moved an application before the Court, seeking temporary bail for a period of four months in view of the COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Gujarat..It was argued that Asaram was about 84 years of age and was suffering from various ailments..Considering the age and the condition of Asaram, it was submitted that he would be more vulnerable to the virus and should thus be released on bail. .The Public Prosecutor argued that considering the seriousness of the allegations against Asaram and the fact that his earlier applications for regular bail were rejected by the High Court and the Supreme Court, the application for temporary bail should also not be entertained..After considering the submissions made by the parties, the Court opined that the present case did not fall under any of the categories mentioned in the guidelines issued by the High Power Committee constituted pursuant to the Supreme Court’s order passed in petition concerning decongestion of jails..It noted,“..it appears that the applicant-accused is involved in very serious offences under Sections 376(2)(c), 377, 354, 357, 342, 346, 506 (2) and 120(B) of IPC. It also appears that his regular bail applications were not granted by thisCourt as well as the Supreme Court.”.In view of the above, the Court concluded that present application did not deserve any further consideration..Senior Advocate SV Raju with Advocate Dipak B Patel represented Asaram.Advocate Mitesh Amin was the Public Prosecutor. .In 2018, a Jodhpur Court had convicted Asaram and two other accused in another rape case involving a minor victim. .Seventeen years after guilty sentence, Supreme Court acquits man convicted of Rape [Read Judgment].Read the Order: