On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of India issued notice to the State of Rajasthan on the Special Leave Petition filed by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s May 2026 judgment that upheld his life imprisonment for rape under Section 376 IPC.
The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu categorically refused to suspend Asaram’s sentence or grant interim bail at this stage, according to LiveLaw. The court directed the State to file its reply within three weeks.
Background & Case History
The case originates from the alleged sexual assault of a minor female devotee at Asaram’s ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in August 2013. The victim, a student at a school connected to the ashram, had been brought there for a religious ritual.
The matter is registered as ASHA RAM @ ASHUMAL Versus STATE OF RAJASTHAN, SLP(Crl) No. 11761/2026. It was heard by the Supreme Court bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu, per LiveLaw and Bar & Bench.
The Rajasthan High Court’s May 2026 judgment was delivered by a Division Bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit, as reported by LawBeat. The High Court partly allowed the appeal but upheld the core rape conviction.
- August 2013: Alleged sexual assault of a minor devotee at Asaram’s ashram in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
- April 25, 2018: Special POCSO Court at Jodhpur convicted Asaram under Section 376 IPC and related offences, sentencing him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.
- January 2023: A Gujarat court separately convicted Asaram in a second rape case involving a female disciple in Ahmedabad, again sentencing him to life imprisonment.
- April 20, 2026: Rajasthan High Court reserved judgment after completion of final arguments.
- May 27, 2026: Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram’s life sentence for rape under Section 376 IPC, set aside gang rape and criminal conspiracy convictions, acquitted co-accused, and ordered Asaram to surrender.
- June 2, 2026: Asaram was taken to hospital; State counsel confirmed no immediate threat to his health was found.
- June 30, 2026: Supreme Court issued notice to Rajasthan on Asaram’s SLP and refused to suspend his sentence.
Arguments & Submissions
Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu appeared for Asaram before the Supreme Court. He cited his client’s advanced age — reportedly 90 years — along with multiple medical ailments as grounds for urgent relief, according to LiveLaw and BW Legal World.
Senior Advocate Naidu also invoked what he termed a “social media conviction,” arguing that pervasive public opinion had prejudiced fair consideration of his client’s case. He told the bench, as reported by LawBeat: “He is 90 now..many medical issues..he was taken to an ayurvedic hospital..This court is our only hope…there is social media conviction now..”
The State’s counsel, responding to the health argument, informed the bench that Asaram had been taken to hospital on June 2, 2026, and that no immediate threat to his health was found, per LiveLaw. The State’s submissions were otherwise deferred, as the formal notice had just been issued and a response was yet to be filed.
The Ruling: Key Findings
The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu declined to grant any suspension of sentence or interim bail, making clear the threshold for reconsideration was exceptionally high, as reported by Bar & Bench and BW Legal World.
Justice MM Sundresh stated from the bench: “We are not considering suspension of sentence. If grave urgency is there…such as danger to life…that’s the only factor we will consider.”
The bench further held, per Bar & Bench: “We are not granting bail now. Subject to hearing the State, we will consider if there is grave necessity to grant bail, like (if his health condition is such that) his life is in danger.”
In its operative directions, the court issued formal notice to the State of Rajasthan, directed that medical treatment being provided to Asaram inside prison must continue uninterrupted, and asked the State to file its response within three weeks, according to BW Legal World.
Legal Analysis & Implications
The Rajasthan High Court’s May 2026 judgment made significant distinctions across the several charges framed at trial. While the conviction under Section 376 IPC (rape) and related provisions including Section 509 and Section 354A IPC were upheld, the High Court set aside Asaram’s conviction under Section 376D IPC (gang rape) and Section 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), as reported by Bar & Bench.
POCSO Act convictions under Sections 3, 4, 7, and 8 were also set aside by the High Court. Co-accused Sharad Chandra, the school director, and Sanchita Shilpi, the hostel warden — both originally sentenced to 20 years — were fully acquitted by the High Court, according to LiveLaw and BW Legal World.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to suspend sentence at the SLP admission stage is consistent with settled practice in cases involving serious offences such as rape. The bench’s formulation — that bail would only be considered where there is a danger to life — sets a demanding threshold that Asaram’s legal team will need to satisfy in subsequent proceedings.
Asaram’s separate life sentence from the Gujarat court in January 2023 remains independently in force and was not the subject of the present SLP.
Reactions & Stakeholder Response
Senior Advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, arguing for Asaram, characterised the Supreme Court as his client’s “only hope,” citing the combination of age, medical condition, and what he described as prejudicial social media coverage, as reported by LawBeat and BW Legal World.
The State of Rajasthan, through its counsel, countered the urgency narrative by confirming that Asaram’s June 2 hospitalisation had not revealed any immediate threat to his life, according to LiveLaw. No formal written submissions from the State were on record at this stage, given that notice had only just been issued.
What’s Next
The State of Rajasthan has been directed to file its counter-affidavit within three weeks of June 30, 2026. The matter is scheduled to be listed for hearing after the Supreme Court reopens from vacation, as reported by BW Legal World and LawBeat.
Until then, Asaram will remain in judicial custody, with the prison authorities directed by the court to continue his current medical treatment. Any bail application will be considered only in the event of a grave, life-threatening medical emergency, per the bench’s explicit directions.
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Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
