Asaram Defies SC Order, Fails to Surrender at Jodhpur Jail Post-Parole
Convicted self-styled godman Asaram, who is serving a life sentence for raping a minor, has failed to surrender before the Jodhpur Central Jail administration within the mandated deadline on Tuesday evening, October 27, 2026, defying explicit directions from the Supreme Court of India. The 20-day medical parole granted to the octogenarian convict expired at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, prompting the Rajasthan prison authorities to initiate procedural formalities to lodge a fresh First Information Report (FIR) against him for violating statutory parole conditions. Despite the apex court’s firm refusal to extend his temporary release period, Asaram continued his stay at the Dhanvantari Ayurveda Hospital in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where he has been undergoing treatment, triggering imminent administrative action and cross-border police coordination to secure his custody.
Missed 5 PM Deadline in Jodhpur: Jail Authorities Prepare Fresh Criminal Case
Asaram had been granted a 20-day reprieve on October 6, 2026, solely for the purpose of receiving specialized medical therapy under designated legal terms. Under the mandatory statutory conditions of his release, he was required to report back and surrender to prison authorities at Jodhpur Central Jail before 5:00 PM on Tuesday; however, the evening concluded without his appearance or submission to jail officials. Confirming the procedural breach, Jodhpur Central Jail Superintendent Pramod Singh stated that the administration maintained an active watch until the deadline lapsed and is now preparing to register a formal criminal case against the convict for failing to return to custody, emphasizing that unauthorized overstaying beyond the judicial parole timeline carries immediate penal consequences.
Supreme Court Rejects Extension Plea: Overstay at Ujjain Ayurveda Hospital
Ahead of the expiration date, Asaram’s legal counsel had approached the Supreme Court seeking an urgent extension of his parole duration, citing his ongoing therapy and health evaluations at the Dhanvantari Ayurveda Hospital in Ujjain. The apex court, however, turned down the plea, refusing to grant any further concession and maintaining that he must report back to prison upon the conclusion of his 20-day relief window. Incarcerated since his arrest in 2013 and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in 2018 for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his Manai ashram near Jodhpur, Asaram has repeatedly filed medical relief appeals across various judicial benches. Following his failure to honor the surrender deadline, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh police administrations are coordinating measures to resolve his hospital discharge and enforce his return to Jodhpur Central Jail.
