TUSHAR MEHTA.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Other, Solicitor General of India

New Delhi, Delhi

“Tushar Mehta is the Solicitor General of India who represented the government in opposing Asaram Bapu's bail applications in the Supreme Court. Mehta argued that the godman's release would pose a severe threat to public order and witness safety.”

Tushar Mehta is a distinguished Indian Senior Advocate who has served as the Solicitor General of India since October 2018. With a long career representing the Union of India and various state governments in complex constitutional and criminal matters, Mehta is recognized as one of the country's top legal minds. In late 2024 and early 2025, Mehta led the state's opposition to Asaram Bapu's medical bail petitions in the Supreme Court.

Appearing before the division bench, Mehta argued that Asaram Bapu's requests for medical bail were part of a systematic strategy to secure release and delay the final disposal of his appeals. He presented reports from state prison doctors indicating that Asaram's health was stable and could be managed within the Jodhpur jail. Mehta also emphasized the history of witness intimidation, arguing that releasing the godman would endanger the surviving witnesses and the victim's family.

During the January 2025 hearings, when the Supreme Court bench was inclined to grant interim bail on humanitarian grounds, Mehta insisted on placing strict conditions on the release. He argued that Asaram must be restricted from using his bail to meet followers, hold public discourses, or travel outside the designated medical facility in Maharashtra, ensuring that the bail did not lead to public order challenges or witness harassment.

Mehta continues to represent the government in major constitutional, regulatory, and criminal matters before the Supreme Court. His involvement in the Asaram case represents the state's ongoing commitment to defending the convictions and ensuring that high-profile convicts are held accountable under the law. His arguments regarding witness safety are a significant detail in the judicial record of the case.