Supreme Court rejects Asaram's parole extension, orders surrender by 5 pm
Synopsis
The Supreme Court has shut the door on Asaram's bid to extend his medical parole, ordering the convicted self-styled godman to return to Jodhpur's Central Jail by 5 pm on 27 October. With his appeal against conviction now listed for 6 November, the legal battle over his life sentence enters a critical new phase.
Key Takeaways
The Supreme Court rejected Asaram's plea for an extension of his medical parole on 27 October 2026 .
He was directed to surrender to Central Jail, Jodhpur by 5 pm on Tuesday .
Asaram had been on 20 days of medical parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court on 6 October , undergoing treatment in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh .
The court directed the Rajasthan government to ensure his medical needs are met in custody.
His appeal against conviction is listed before the Supreme Court on 6 November at 2 pm .
The Gujarat High Court had earlier also rejected his interim bail plea on humanitarian grounds.
The Supreme Court on 27 October 2026 rejected a plea by convicted self-styled godman Asaram seeking an extension of his medical parole, directing him to surrender by 5 pm on Tuesday as his existing parole period expires. Asaram is currently serving a life sentence in Central Jail, Jodhpur, following his conviction in a 2013 rape case involving a minor in Rajasthan.
Background of the Case
Asaram was convicted by a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Jodhpur for raping a teenage girl at his ashram and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Separately, he was also convicted by a trial court in Gujarat for raping a woman disciple on multiple occasions at his Surat ashram, also in 2013.
The Rajasthan High Court had granted him 20 days of medical parole on 6 October, during which he was undergoing treatment at the Government Dhanwantari Ayurvedic Hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
What the Supreme Court Said
Asaram's counsel approached the Supreme Court seeking additional time, arguing that his medical treatment was still ongoing and that he required more time on health grounds. The Supreme Court declined to extend the parole period, but directed the Rajasthan government to ensure that his medical needs were adequately addressed after his return to custody.
Notably, the court has also directed its Registry to summon trial court records — in both physical and digital form — related to Asaram's appeal against his conviction. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 6 November at 2 pm.
Earlier Bail Plea Also Rejected
This is not the first time courts have declined relief to Asaram. The Gujarat High Court had previously rejected an interim bail plea he had filed on humanitarian grounds, in which he sought 20 days of temporary release to meet his 83-year-old wife, who is reportedly hospitalised. While that court denied the bail, it permitted him to communicate with her through video conferencing.
What Happens Next
With the parole expired and the Supreme Court's surrender order now in force, Asaram is required to return to Central Jail, Jodhpur. His appeal against conviction is scheduled to be heard on 6 November, making the coming weeks a significant period in the long-running legal proceedings surrounding his cases.
Point of View
A question that carries weight well beyond one individual: it tests how robustly India's judicial architecture protects child victims even when the accused commands institutional and devotee-base influence. The pattern of repeated relief-seeking — parole extensions, interim bails, humanitarian pleas — has repeatedly strained the system, and the Supreme Court's firm surrender directive signals diminishing tolerance for procedural delay.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Supreme Court reject Asaram's parole extension plea?
The Supreme Court rejected the plea because Asaram's medical parole granted by the Rajasthan High Court had already expired and the court found no sufficient grounds to extend it further. However, it directed the Rajasthan government to ensure his medical needs are met in custody.
What is Asaram serving time for?
Asaram is serving a life sentence following his conviction by a POCSO court in Jodhpur for raping a teenage girl at his ashram in Rajasthan in 2013. He was also separately convicted by a Gujarat trial court for raping a woman disciple at his Surat ashram in 2013.
When is Asaram's conviction appeal listed in the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court has listed Asaram's appeal against his conviction for hearing on 6 November at 2 pm. The court has also directed its Registry to produce trial court records in both physical and digital form for the hearing.
What was the Rajasthan High Court's earlier order on his parole?
The Rajasthan High Court granted Asaram 20 days of medical parole on 6 October, during which he was undergoing treatment at the Government Dhanwantari Ayurvedic Hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. That parole expired on 27 October.
Has Asaram sought other forms of relief from courts recently?
Yes. The Gujarat High Court had earlier rejected an interim bail plea filed by Asaram on humanitarian grounds, in which he sought temporary release to meet his 83-year-old hospitalised wife. The court denied bail but allowed him to speak with her via video conferencing.
