New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday denied interim bail to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, saying there is no urgency to grant bail on medical grounds.
Two Surat-based women, sisters, have accused Asaram and his son Narayan Sai of sexual exploitation. The accusations followed Asaram's arrest in Jodhpur case.
The elder sister has levelled allegations against Asaram, and the younger sister against his son. In Asaram's case, the complainant had accused him of sexual assaults between 1997 and 2006, when she was living in his ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
Read: Asaram has amassed riches of Rs 10,000 cr, vast land holdings
Asaram's lawyer, Saurav Ajay Gupta said, "The court has said that the bail can be considered only after the material witness is examined. However, we have requested that at least interim bail should be given to him as the medical condition of the petitioner is worsening. He is getting shooting pain and treatment can be done only through gamma knife surgery."
"His disease is 15 years old and the medicines are not working. The state government has to file a report before 15th October, on the opinion of the medical board. No other order has been passed today," he added.
"We have to give the names of the hospital where the surgery can be performed," added Gupta.
The apex court set the next hearing for October 15.
