Self-styled godman Asaram, whose plea for relief was twice denied, has approached the Rajasthan high court seeking parole.
A division bench of Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Rajendra Prakash Soni in response to his application, has issued a notice to the state government, seeking a reply within two weeks.
Asaram, currently serving a life sentence since his conviction on April 25, 2018, for the sexual assault of a teenage student in his ashram, had his parole application rejected a second time by the District Parole Committee. The committee cited concerns about potential law and order issues as the reason for the rejection. His application had sought a 20-day parole.
In court, Asaram’s counsel, Kalu Ram Bhati, argued that Asaram had already served 11 years of his jail term. He pointed out that the Social Justice and Empowerment department had recommended parole for the self-proclaimed godman. Bhati further emphasised Asaram’s satisfactory behaviour during his incarceration and his deteriorating health due to old age as reasons to grant him parole.
Additional Advocate General Anil Joshi requested additional time to file a reply. In response, the bench directed him to submit the reply within two weeks.
Asaram’s move to approach the high court came in July after the parole committee rejected his application, citing that he did not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Rajasthan Prisoners Release on Parole Rules, 2021.