The Supreme Court has scheduled November 17 to review self-styled spiritual leader Asaram’s challenge against his life term in the Jodhpur minor rape case, firmly directing that the convict must first turn himself in once his active 20-day parole concludes.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran made it clear that substantial evidence had already established his guilt. The bench noted that it would solely entertain precise, fundamental legal questions demonstrating an error so severe it invalidated the trial itself. While Asaram’s defense counsel argued that charges under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code were not substantiated on merits, the bench emphasized that any substantive hearing will proceed only after he returns to custody following the end of his temporary release on October 27.
Concurrently, Asaram withdrew a separate petition seeking interim bail in connection with the 2013 Gandhinagar rape case, which he had pursued on the grounds of visiting his ailing wife. His legal team had also submitted that the 85-year-old was placed in intensive care following an overnight cardiac event.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing both Rajasthan and Gujarat, highlighted Asaram’s parallel legal maneuvers across state jurisdictions, noting that despite an initial rejection on health grounds, the convict obtained a short parole window through the Rajasthan High Court.
The Apex Court has ordered the trial court registry to furnish complete physical and electronic case files to all parties involved, including the state and the victim’s counsel, ahead of the mid-November proceedings.