Asaram hospitalised in Jodhpur, shifted from Central Jail under heavy security
Synopsis
Days after the Rajasthan High Court upheld his life sentence and cancelled his interim bail, Asaram is back in a Jodhpur hospital — shifted from the Central Jail to Arogyam Hospital under tight security on a health plea the court allowed via its Vacation Bench.
Key Takeaways
Asaram was shifted from Jodhpur Central Jail to Arogyam Hospital on Tuesday night under heavy police security.
He has been placed under medical observation after citing multiple health issues in a Rajasthan High Court petition.
The Rajasthan High Court bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit recently upheld his life sentence and cancelled his interim bail.
Asaram arrived in Jodhpur on 28 May , underwent a check-up at AIIMS Jodhpur , and surrendered before jail authorities.
The underlying case dates to August 2013 , with conviction handed down in April 2018 .
Self-styled godman Asaram, serving a life sentence in a 2013 minor sexual assault case, has been admitted once again to a hospital in Jodhpur, with authorities shifting him from the Central Jail to Arogyam Hospital on Tuesday night under heavy police security. He has been placed under observation, hospital officials confirmed.
Shifted under tight security cover
A large police contingent was deployed during the transfer, with Asaram moved in an ambulance amid layered security arrangements, according to officials at Arogyam Hospital. The hospital has not publicly disclosed the specific ailments under treatment.
After surrendering before Jodhpur Central Jail authorities, Asaram cited multiple health issues and moved the Rajasthan High Court seeking permission to undergo treatment at Arogyam Hospital. The petition was taken up by the court's Vacation Bench.
How he reached Jodhpur
Asaram arrived in Jodhpur on 28 May following the Rajasthan High Court's verdict in his case, with supporters gathering at Jodhpur Airport on his arrival, according to reports. He went directly to his ashram in Pal village, underwent a medical examination at AIIMS Jodhpur, and subsequently surrendered at the Central Jail.
What the High Court ruled
A Division Bench comprising Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit upheld the life sentence awarded by the trial court, affirming imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. The bench observed, “The accused's imprisonment is confined within walls, but the mental trauma and lifelong suffering inflicted upon the victim know no such boundaries.”
Acting on the order, the court cancelled Asaram's interim bail and directed the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant, following which he surrendered before jail authorities.
Background to the case
The case dates back to August 2013, when allegations surfaced regarding the sexual assault of a minor student inside a hut at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur. A lower court convicted Asaram and sentenced him to life imprisonment in April 2018.
This is not the first time the convict has been hospitalised during his incarceration, with previous medical interventions also drawing public attention. The duration of his stay at Arogyam Hospital will depend on the medical board's assessment, with officials yet to indicate a timeline for his return to jail.
Point of View
And Asaram's case is once again in that crosshair. The Rajasthan High Court's firm language — that the victim's trauma 'knows no boundaries' — sets a high bar against any leniency drift. The real test now is procedural: whether the medical board's assessment is transparent and time-bound, and whether hospital stays are reviewed against jail manual norms rather than stretched indefinitely.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Asaram been hospitalised in Jodhpur?
Asaram was shifted from Jodhpur Central Jail to Arogyam Hospital on Tuesday night after citing multiple health issues in a petition before the Rajasthan High Court's Vacation Bench. He has been placed under medical observation, hospital officials confirmed.
What did the Rajasthan High Court rule in Asaram's case?
A Division Bench of Justices Arun Monga and Yogendra Kumar Purohit upheld the life sentence awarded by the trial court, affirming imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life. The court also cancelled his interim bail and directed the immediate issuance of an arrest warrant.
What is the 2013 case against Asaram?
The case relates to the sexual assault of a minor student inside a hut at Manai Ashram in Jodhpur in August 2013. A lower court convicted Asaram and sentenced him to life imprisonment in April 2018.
When did Asaram surrender before jail authorities?
Asaram arrived in Jodhpur on 28 May following the High Court's verdict, visited his ashram in Pal village, underwent a check-up at AIIMS Jodhpur, and subsequently surrendered at the Jodhpur Central Jail.
How long will Asaram stay at Arogyam Hospital?
The duration of his hospital stay has not been officially disclosed and will depend on the medical board's assessment. Authorities have not indicated a timeline for his return to the Central Jail.
