No bail for Asaram, SC says surgery not needed

Self-styled 'godman' Asaram, who is in jail since his arrest in August, 2013 in a rape case, does not need any surgery and his aliments can be managed through medicines, a report submitted by a panel of All India Institute of Medical Science doctors to the Supreme Court said on Monday.

A bench of justices T S Thakur and Adarsh Kumar Goel, referring to the findings of the panel, said, "The opinion of half-a-dozen doctors of AIIMS is that at present, any surgical intervention is not required. He can be treated in outpatient department. Now what remains?"

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for Asaram, however, sought some time to go through the report. The bench then fixed the matter on January 20 for hearing
and asked its Registry to supply the copies of the report to the parties, including the accused.

It also asked the counsel for Asaram to ensure that the expenses incurred by the Rajasthan police in getting him examined at the AIIMS are paid.

Earlier, the jailed 'godman' was brought to Delhi by the Rajasthan police to undergo various tests at the AIIMS to ascertain veracity of his claim that he was unwell and be granted bail on medical ground.

During the previous hearing, the bench had said that there was no medical urgency to grant bail to him and he cannot be given special treatment.

It had refused to pass any order on how 72-year-old Asaram is to be brought from Jodhpur jail to the national capital, saying that it is for the state government to decide on it.

The apex court had on October 15 directed AIIMS director to set up a medical board to review medical reports and if required clinically examine Asaram to ascertain whether interim bail should be granted to him in the Jodhpur rape case.

Charges have been framed against Asaram for rape, criminal conspiracy and other offences by a Jodhpur court in connection with alleged sexual exploitation of a minor girl in his ashram in Jodhpur.

The district and sessions court had retained all the charges slapped by the police, except Section 26 of Juvenile Justice Act related to child labour against Asaram and his aides and co-accused Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi and Sharad Chandra.

Charges have been framed under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 354A (sexual harassment), 370(4) (trafficking), 376(2)f (rape on a woman when she is under twelve years of age), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509/34 and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.