Asaram to wait for consideration of interim bail plea: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday said that it would consider spiritual guru Asaram Bapu's plea for interim bail only after it receives report on his ailments from AIIMS and the examination of material witnesses in the case of alleged rape of a minor girl was completed.

A bench of Justice T.S.Thakur and Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said this as senior counsel Siddharth Luthra urged the court to release Asaram on interim bail citing his health condition as he is suffering from neurological aliment trigeminal neuralgia, which causes severe pain on the face or the forehead of the afflicted person.

Describing the ailment as age-related, the court said that it would consider Asaram's plea only after it receives medical report from AIIMS and the completion of examination of material witnesses.

The court said that if doctors at AIIMS conclude that he needs surgery, then they will decide and if not, then the trial court would proceed with the examination of material witnesses.

Is there a different provision for different people under the law, the court asked Luthra as he urged the court that Asaram be brought from Jodhpur jail with some extra care.

Addressing the concern of Luthra, Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand told the court that Asaram would be extended all care and facilities that is given in such situations during his travel from Jodhpur jail to AIIMS.

Doctors at AIIMS, who will examine Asaram on Dec 3, will also decide whether he required gamma ray treatment.

The 72-year-old Asaram who is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail was arrested after a 16-year-old girl lodged a police complaint Aug 20, 2013, accusing him of sexually assaulting her at his ashram there. Arrested in September last year, Asaram is being tried under the provision of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

Asaram has disputed that the girl was a minor when the alleged incidenbt of rape took place.