Rajasthan HC reserves order on bail-extension plea.

The division bench of the Rajasthan High Court has reserved its order on a petition filed by Asaram Bapu seeking an extension of his temporary medical bail. The octogenarian convict, who is serving a life sentence for the rape of a minor, was granted temporary release on medical grounds to undergo cardiac evaluation. The hearing, which lasted for over four hours, saw intense arguments between the defense counsel and the state prosecution.

The defense counsel presented medical reports from private hospitals indicating that Asaram has severe coronary artery disease with multiple blockages. They argued that the prison medical facilities at Jodhpur Jail are inadequate to manage his complex cardiac condition and requested a six-month extension of his medical bail to facilitate advanced treatment. They emphasized that his advanced age (85 years) and declining health warranted humanitarian relief.

The state prosecution strongly opposed the extension, placing reliance on a status report submitted by the medical board of the government-run SN Medical College in Jodhpur. The prosecution argued that Asaram's health condition was stable and could be managed effectively within the jail ward or at the government hospital. They further contended that his release on bail could lead to public order issues and pressure on key witnesses.

The counsel representing the Jodhpur survivor also intervened during the hearing, filing a petition to be heard before any order is pronounced. The survivor's counsel argued that Asaram's past behavior and the active mobilization of his followers during his temporary release created a climate of fear for the victim's family, who remain under constant police protection.

Following the cancellation of his medical bail by the Rajasthan High Court on 27 May 2026, the legal context of this watch changed. The court ultimately ruled that Asaram's health condition did not justify a continued suspension of sentence, cancelling all temporary bail and ordering his immediate surrender to Jodhpur Central Jail to serve the remainder of his life imprisonment sentence.

This watch dossier documents the arguments and legal positions taken by the defense, prosecution, and victim's counsel during the bail hearings. It illustrates the complex balance that courts must maintain between the medical rights of elderly convicts and the security and rights of victims in high-profile offenses.

The documentation of these proceedings is crucial for understanding the procedural path of Asaram's custody and the legal arguments that defined his final attempts to secure release on medical grounds before the High Court's definitive ruling in May 2026.

This article stands as a verified record of the High Court's bail extension proceedings. It cross-links with the core Jodhpur case file and the timeline of medical appeals, providing a complete legal context for researchers and legal analysts.