Supreme Court: Take Asaram to AIIMS for checkup

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Rajasthan government to bring self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, facing rape charges, to AIIMS by air from jodhpur jail for medical checkups as he is said to be suffering from several chronic ailments.

A bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and N.V. Ramana passed this order while hearing Asaram’s bail plea on medical grounds. Earlier, a bench headed by Justice Madan Lokur had ordered medical checkup at AIIMS, but during the resumed hearing before a bench of Justice A.K. Sikri, the court was informed that the AIIMS had sent a report that the godman be brought to Delhi as it was not possible for all the doctors in the board to visit Jodhpur jail.

The board was set up to ascertain his medical condition before allowing him bail to go to Kerala where, according to his counsel he needs to undergo Ayurve-dic treatment.

On Monday, senior counsel Raju Ramachandran informed the bench that the godman could not be brought to Delhi by train and he sought permission for bringing him by air.

Mr Ramachandran also urged the court to restrain the media from reporting each proceeding of the bail hearing as the proceedings are distorted. Justice Sikri quipped. “No. Why What is there in it. We cannot gag the media.”

In a brief order the bench said a report has been received from the AIIMS, which wants the petitioner be brought to the AIIMS. From the report it becomes clear that medical board of seven doctors have been set up. According to us the convenient option would be to bring the petitioner to the hospital rather than all the doctors going to Jodhpur where the petitioner is lodged. He shall be brought to Delhi by air by the Rajasthan government. The godman is charges for offences in connection with alleged sexual exploitation of a minor girl in his ashram. The 79-year-old godman is also facing charges of rape in another case in Surat in Gujarat and he has been in jail since September 2013. He filed the present appeal after the Rajasthan HC dismissed his bail plea saying since the trial of the case has reached its fag end, it was not appropriate to grant the bail.