Asaram’s Rape Sentence Suspended for Six Months; Umar Khalid’s Bail Hearing Deferred
Supreme Court postpones Umar Khalid’s bail plea hearing to Monday, while Gujarat High Court temporarily suspends Asaram’s sentence citing health grounds.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred the hearing on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) scholar Umar Khalid’s bail plea until Monday, extending his wait for release in the 2019 Delhi riots conspiracy case. On the same day, the Gujarat High Court suspended self-styled godman Asaram’s rape sentence for six months.
A division bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria adjourned the hearing in Umar Khalid’s case. During the next session, lawyers representing the Delhi Police are expected to present arguments opposing the grant of bail to Khalid and other accused in the alleged larger conspiracy behind the Delhi riots. Khalid has been in Tihar Jail for over five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Meanwhile, a division bench of Justice A.Y. Vora and Justice R.T. Vachhani of the Gujarat High Court considered an appeal from Asaram’s counsel Advocate Devadatt Kamat, who presented the Rajasthan High Court’s earlier order suspending Asaram’s sentence. The Rajasthan High Court had granted relief last month, citing Asaram’s “critical health condition” and inadequate medical facilities in prison.
After reviewing the documents, the Gujarat bench stated, “We grant relief on the same grounds and will review the matter again after six months.” Kamat had requested leniency on humanitarian grounds, referring to Asaram’s advanced age and medical condition.
Asaram, convicted in multiple rape cases, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Gandhinagar sessions court in connection with a 2013 sexual assault case.
However, B.B. Naik, the lawyer representing the survivor, opposed the suspension of the sentence. “Earlier, I had mentioned that Asaram wanted to travel across India, a fact even recorded by the Rajasthan High Court in its August 27 order. The medical certificates do not show his condition as critical,” Naik told the bench. The state counsel added that adequate medical care could be provided to Asaram in the Gujarat prison itself.
