Asaram moves SC for early hearing of bail plea

He is accused of rape in Gujarat

Self-styled preacher Asaram, facing prosecution in a rape case in Gujarat, on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking early hearing on his pending bail plea, saying the ongoing trial in the matter was getting delayed.

Asaram’s advocate mentioned the matter before a Bench of Justices N. V. Ramana and Amitava Roy, and contended that the top court had earlier fixed the matter for hearing after Diwali vacation but it was shown to be listed on January 4 next year.

Recording of evidence

The Bench told advocate Saurabh Ajay Gupta, representing Asaram, to mention the matter before Chief Justice Dipak Misra for early listing of the plea.

The counsel told the Bench that trial proceedings before the lower court in Gujarat were getting delayed and recording of evidence of prosecution witnesses was not yet complete. The court had in August expressed anguish over the pace of progress in the case involving Asaram and had asked the Gujarat government to file a progress report and questioned why the alleged victim had not been examined. The top court had earlier rejected several bail pleas filed by Asaram.

Witnesses missing

The Gujarat government had told the court that two crucial witnesses were killed while one was missing and 17 others were injured in alleged attacks. It had said that there were 92 material witnesses in the case.

On April 12, the apex court had asked the Gujarat trial court to expedite the recording of evidence of prosecution witnesses in the case lodged by two Surat-based sisters.