Jodhpur rape case: Supreme Court to hear Asaram Bapu's bail plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear bail plea of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu on health grounds in Jodhpur rape case and directed setting up of a board of doctors to examine his medical condition.

A bench headed by Justice T S Thakur directed Superintendent of S N Medical College at Jodhpur to constitute a board of doctors including dental and neurosurgeon to medically examine 76-year Asaram.

The bench directed that medical report be submitted before it by the board by September 23 when it will hear Asaram's bail plea.

The Supreme Court had on July 3 refused to entertain Asaram's bail plea in a rape case lodged against him in Surat in Gujarat but agreed to hear his petition for bail in rape case filed in Jodhpur.

Charges have been framed against Asaram for rape, criminal conspiracy and other offences by a Jodhpur court in connection with alleged sexual exploitation of a minor girl in his ashram in Jodhpur.

District and Sessions Court retained all the charges slapped by the police except Section 26 of Juvenile Justice Act related to child labour against Asaram and his aides and co-accused Sanchita Gupta alias Shilpi and Sharad Chandra.

Charges have been framed against under sections 342 (for wrongful confinement), 354A (sexual harassment), 370(4) (trafficking), 376(2)f (rape on a woman when she is under twelve years of age), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509/34 and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy).