New Delhi (ILNS): In a big relief to the self-proclaimed rapist godman Asaram Bapu the Rajasthan High Court has accepted his plea for an early hearing. Asaram, who has been in jail for 7 years, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018.

The two-judge bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Rameshwar Lal Vyas, while accepting the plea of Asaram, has now given time for hearing in the third week of January 2021.

Senior advocate Jagmal Chaudhary and advocate Pradeep Chaudhary had filed the petition on behalf of Asaram. 

Asaram had stated in his application that he is 80 years old and has been in jail since 2013, therefore, his application should be heard at the earliest.

Asaram was arrested from the Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh in 2013 in the case of sexual harassment. On April 25, 2018, Asaram was sentenced to life imprisonment. Asaram has not got a bail for the last seven years. Even in June 2020, Asaram had filed his bail application, which was rejected by the Gujarat High Court, saying that Asumal Harpalani alias Asaram Bapu would not be granted temporary bail because, if he comes out these days, his followers would reach in large numbers and Corona infection will be at risk of spreading.

A rape case is going on against Asaram in Gandhinagar court even though he had sought temporary bail for four months on various grounds but his application was rejected citing Corona infection.

Narayan Sai, son of Asaram, is also serving life sentence. On April 30 2019, Narayan Sai was sentenced to life imprisonment by the court of Surat. He was lodged in Lajpur Jail in Surat. Ever since Asaram has been in jail, he has tried many times to come out of the jail, but has not been able to get bail yet.

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The Delhi High Court has today reserved its order in an early hearing application moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in connection to the 2G Scam case contending that the matter is required to be heard at the earliest as the concerned Judge is due to retire soon.

A single-judge bench comprising Justice Brijesh Sethi while hearing the application through video conferencing heard the matter in length from both the parties and has further reserved its order.

Continuing the arguments of yesterday Advocate Vijay Agrawal appearing for the respondents submitted that there had been 90 more documents consisting around 15000 pages that are not on record and now they would put this on record.

Mr. Agrawal further added that

He further contended that out of all the 6 matters, 3 matters whereas, all of the 6 matters are 2 G matters, then why only us. All 3 cases refer to different incidents, different facts, are indeed 2G cases and are supposed to be heard together.

My case is too small with Rs. 200 Crores only whereas, the other matters involve around Rs. 700 Crores in which the property release application was moved, and in which no status quo was sought, no early hearing application was filed, Mr. Agrawal added.

Mr. Agrawal also contended that most of the respondents, in this case, are 65+ and there is advisory of the central government against the movement. He added this early hearing application is taking 3 or 4 hearings.

ASG Sanjay Jain appearing for the petitioner submitted that “the public interest lies in assisting  Institutions in reaching their goal as early as possible.”

Mr. Jain adding to his contention, stated that

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Part heard matter has consumed the time of the judiciary, if later listed before another bench the time will be wasted, Mr. Jain.

The bench has reserved its order in the matter.  

-India Legal Bureau