EXCLUSIVE: Asaram Bapu’s bail plea on medical grounds: AIIMS Board submits its report in sealed cover, hearing before different SC bench on Monday [Read Orders]

The Supreme Court is set to hear the self-styled godman, Asaram Bapu’s application for regular bail on medical grounds on August 29.

The matter is listed before the bench at Court No.11, before justices A.K.Sikri and N.V.Ramana on August 29, although it was the bench comprising Madan B Lokur and R.K.Agrawal which had heard the matter earlier, and directed its listing on August 29. The sudden change in the bench hearing the matter has surprised observers.

On August 11, the Lokur-Agrawal bench had refused to grant him an interim bail, but asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to constitute a three-member board to examine him in the Jodhpur jail, where he is presently lodged.

Subsequently, Asaram’s counsel paid AIIMS Rs.1 lakh to defray the travel and other expenses of the three doctors comprising the medical board. The board has subsequently given its report in a sealed cover to the SC Registry.

Asaram’s trial for various offences including the rape of a minor girl is nearing completion in the trial court. The Rajasthan high court had refused to grant him bail on the ground that he is not suffering from any ailment which requires hospitalisation.

Meanwhile, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court is also slated to deliver its order on August 29, regarding the plea of a PIL petitioner, for a CBI probe into the missing witness in the Asaram case, Dr.Rahul Sachan.

On August 20, the Lucknow bench of the high court expressed its displeasure over the tardy investigation by the state police so far.

Read the orders here.