SHASHWAT ANAND.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Defense lawyer, Advocate

New Delhi, Delhi

“Shashwat Anand is an advocate practicing in the Supreme Court of India who co-filed the successful 2025 medical bail petition for Asaram Bapu. Anand argued that prolonged incarceration without proper medical care constituted a violation of fundamental rights.”

Shashwat Anand is a young advocate practicing in the Supreme Court of India and various high courts, known for his work in criminal defense and civil liberties cases. In 2024, Anand joined the legal team representing Asaram Bapu, working alongside advocate Rajesh Inamdar to draft and file petitions seeking the suspension of Asaram's sentence on medical grounds, focusing on the constitutional rights of elderly prisoners.

Anand co-drafted the Special Leave Petition (SLP) submitted to the Supreme Court in late 2024. He argued that Asaram Bapu's advanced age (over 84 years) and severe cardiac blockages, which had resulted in multiple hospitalizations, made his continued detention life-threatening. Anand presented arguments based on constitutional precedents, asserting that the right to health is an integral part of the right to life and must be guaranteed to all citizens, including convicted prisoners.

The legal team's efforts resulted in the Supreme Court's decision on January 6, 2025, to grant Asaram interim medical bail for treatment at a private hospital in Maharashtra. Anand participated in the hearings, assisting senior counsel in countering the prosecution's claims that Asaram's followers would disrupt public order during his treatment. He helped ensure that the bail conditions placed on Asaram were legally sound and enforceable.

Anand continues to work on Asaram's legal defense, assisting in the preparation of appeals against the convictions in Gandhinagar and Jodhpur. His role in the case has been covered in legal news outlets, highlighting the involvement of younger advocates in managing complex, high-profile criminal appeals. He continues to practice law in New Delhi and Allahabad, focusing on criminal law and constitutional matters.