Asaram's demand for special facilities in jail rejected

Forced into the confinement of jail after his bail plea was rejected, self-styled godman Asaram Bapu on Wednesday sought for his routine diet, gangajal and a special bed besides other facilities which were denied by the jail administration.

His counsel Pradeep Choudhary said Asaram had sought facilities such as his routine food which includes herbs and medicines, gangajal, bed, books and some other material required for his prayer.

"These demands had been made to the jail administration as per jail rules but they were rejected. The rule has a provision under which if any prisoner (undertrial) wants reasonable facilities in the jail, he can be provided upon the discretion of the jail administration.

 "All these demands are reasonable considering his age and should be made available to him but since the jail administration rejected the demand, we have to move to the court," said Choudhary.

Reacting to the application moved by the defence regarding special facilities to Asaram in jail, counsel of the prosecution Pradhyumn Singh said they will oppose the demand as he has been declared fit.

"We have gone through the application, the arguments over which, will be held on Thursday. We will oppose the facilities as Asaram has repeatedly been declared fit and healthy in each of the medical examination, so shall be treated as an ordinary prisoner," he said.

Jail superintendent Rakesh Mohan Sharma said Asaram was subjected to medical examination twice today and was found to be fit both times. Meanwhile, Asaram met some lawyers of Supreme Court in the jail today to discuss the future course of action.

Seventy-two-year-old Asaram was sent to jail on Monday after he was remanded in 14-day judicial custody by a court here. Asaram was arrested in Indore following an FIR lodged by a 16-year-old girl that she was sexually assaulted by him.

His bail plea was rejected on Wednesday by a Jodhpur court after the prosecution raised strong objection to setting him free.