The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed as withdrawn the bail petition filed by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who was convicted for raping a minor girl at his Ashram in Manai village of Jodhpur in August 2013.

The Bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti observed that Asaram could file a fresh plea before the Rajasthan High Court for suspension of sentence, in case his appeal against conviction by the trial court was not heard in an expeditious manner.

Advocate Devadutt Kamath, appearing for the rape convict, argued that he has already spent more than 10 years behind the bars and the appeal against conviction was taking time to be heard.

However, the Apex Court refused to entertain the plea. The counsel then sought liberty to withdraw the petition, which was allowed.

The petitioner had challenged the July 2022 order of the Rajasthan High Court order, which denied him bail in the minor rape case.

The High Court had further rejected his plea seeking suspension of sentence.

Asaram was arrested on charges of raping a minor girl in 2013. An FIR was initially registered against him on August 20, 2013. He was arrested on the midnight of August 31, 2013 for charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).

Following Asaram’s arrest, two women from Surat also filed a complaint, alleging that they were raped by Asaram and his son between 2002 and 2005.

The criminal trial for the Jodhpur rape case commenced in 2014 and lasted for four years.

He was convicted by the trial court in 2018 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

His appeal against the same is pending before the High Court.

Meanwhile, he moved the High Court for bail citing his advanced age of around 83 years. He said that he was suffering from numerous ailments and that he has been in prolonged custody.

The same came to be rejected leading to the appeal before the top court.

(Case title: Asharam @ Ashumal v State of Rajasthan)

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