The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Rajasthan government to examine the health reports of religious leader Asumal Harpalani, also known as Asaram Bapu, to determine whether his condition warrants his release on interim bail on medical grounds, Bar and Bench reported.

The hearing took place after Asaram’s counsel informed the court that the religious leader had developed “acute internal bleeding”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, informed the court that Asaram was fit and had visited Ayodhya and Varanasi some months ago, while on parole.

However, Mehta said he would seek further instructions from the authorities, the legal news outlet reported.

The bench asked the government to respond by Tuesday.

On June 30, the Supreme Court rejected Asaram’s bail plea, saying that it would consider granting it only if there was a grave medical necessity, “such as danger to life”.

The court was hearing a plea by Asaram challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s decision to uphold his conviction for raping a minor in 2013. He has also sought interim bail while his appeal is pending.

In April 2018, a sessions court in Jodhpur sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment for raping the minor at his ashram in 2013. He had been convicted under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice Act.

In May this year, the High Court acquitted Asaram on charges related to gangrape. However, it upheld his conviction for rape.

While rejecting Asaram’s petition to set aside the life sentence, the High Court bench had held that the charges of rape under the IPC, sexual assault under the Pocso Act and offences under the Juvenile Justice Act had been proved.

In January 2023, a sessions court in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar also sentenced Asaram to life imprisonment in a separate case about raping a 16-year-old girl several times at his ashram between 2001 and 2006.

Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.