Gujarat HC grants Asaram one-month ‘final' bail extension
Asaram is serving a life sentence for raping a woman disciple at his Ahmedabad ashram between 2001 and 2006. He was convicted in January 2023 under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, unnatural offences and assault with intent to outrage modesty. He is also serving a separate life term for raping a 16-year-old girl at his Rajasthan ashram.
The division bench of Justices Ilesh Vora and PM Raval rejected his lawyer's request for a three-month extension, instead allowing 30 additional days. This follows the court's earlier interim extension granted on June 30, which was valid until July 7.
In January, the Supreme Court had granted interim bail to Asaram on medical grounds till March 31. Towards the end of his bail period, he approached the High Court, which delivered a split verdict on extending his bail. The case was then referred to a third judge, who granted him three months' temporary bail till July 7.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Maramadi, an agrarian sport fading into oblivion
PATHANAMTHITTA: Conducted in ankle-deep slushy fields after the paddy harvest, 'Maramadi', (bull surfing) is not just a race for the villagers of Anandapally in Pathanamthitta, but a symbol of traditional farming, one where man, animal and mud merge in a unique spectacle of tradition and toil. However, the harvest race that once drew thousands to the muddy fields near Anandapally in Adoor during the Malayalam month of Chingam is nearly extinct today. The race was a sight to behold. A pair of bulls yoked to a wooden plank charged down a 100-m waterlogged track, with a rider clinging to the log and two runners guiding them. For viewers, it was rhythm, tradition and unwavering spirit – 'agriculture in motion', as many dubbed it. Started in the 1950s in Adoor Puthuveettil Padi Ela, Anandapally Maramadi was held annually after paddy harvest until 2008, following a Supreme Court directive that banned events involving the use of animals, including Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu. 'While states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra subsequently passed legislation allowing traditional bull-related sports to resume following a 2017 amendment by the Centre, Kerala has yet to follow suit,' said Varghese Daniel, president of the Anandapally Karshaka Samithi (AKS), the organisers of the Maramadi. Despite promises from successive state governments, neither a Bill has been passed nor an ordinance promulgated to permit Maramadi. 'We were told an ordinance would be brought. Even the CM publicly assured it. But nothing has moved forward,' said AKS secretary V K Stanley. The organisers said Maramadi attracted over 60 bull pairs from eight districts as well as large crowds, including foreign tourists. The event traditionally took place on August 15 during Independence Day celebrations. Bulls, often brought from Tamil Nadu, were specially trained and maintained by local farmers for a considerable cost. Cultural significance Beyond entertainment, Maramadi carried cultural and agricultural significance, serving as a platform to showcase indigenous farming practices and tools, encouraging youth participation in agriculture and promoting rural tourism.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
21 minutes ago
- First Post
A court order leaves India's Cuba envoy with two wives, Supreme Court hears case
In 2022, the Gauhati High Court ruled that a marriage under the Christian Marriage Act can't be dissolved by customary practices of the Kuki tribe. This decision created a complex matrimonial situation for Thongkomang Armstrong Changsan, India's ambassador to Cuba read more A view of Supreme Court of India building in New Delhi. PTI The Gauhati High Court in 2022 had ruled that a marriage conducted in a church under the Christian Marriage Act, 1872, between a man and a woman from the Kuki tribe cannot be dissolved by customary practices involving the Songpijan village committee or 'gaonburas (village elders)' in Assam's Dima Hasao district. The court stated that such a marriage can only be annulled through legal proceedings before the High Court or a district judge, as outlined in section 10 of the Divorce Act, 1869. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This decision created a complex matrimonial situation for Thongkomang Armstrong Changsan, India's ambassador to Cuba, who found himself with two wives. Before the 2022 High Court ruling affirming his 1994 church marriage to Neikhol Changsan, he had remarried another woman after a customary divorce, and he has a daughter from each marriage. Supreme Court's observation The Supreme Court, addressing Changsan's appeal, expressed no sympathy for him. After mediation attempts failed, a bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi noted on Friday (July 25) that the Gauhati High Court's judgment was legally robust. Recognising that the Indian Foreign Service officer has been married to his second wife for nearly 15 years, the court sought a resolution to this legal and matrimonial dilemma, aiming to help Neikhol rebuild her life. Arguments by first wife, IFS officer Neikhol, representing herself in court, claimed she single-handedly raised her 29-year-old daughter without her husband's involvement and accused Changsan of manipulatively estranging their daughter from her. She urged the Supreme Court to 'protect her honour and dignity,' describing how Changsan secretly dissolved their marriage through tribal elders before remarrying. In response, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing the ambassador, stated that he has been covering their daughter's expenses, who is now pursuing a career in Bengaluru. Changsan also noted he has provided Neikhol with a house in Delhi and pays her Rs 20,000 monthly maintenance. The Supreme Court bench remarked, 'We have absolutely no sympathy for the man. The HC judgment is in your favour, and you have suffered socially and mentally. But can you think of a way to start life afresh?' To facilitate a potential resolution, the court suggested Neikhol meet her daughter in Bengaluru to discuss future steps. It directed Changsan to arrange her flight tickets, provide accommodation near her daughter's residence, and pay an ad hoc sum of Rs 3 lakh to support the visit. Justice Kant emphasised, 'If at all there is a possibility of settlement, the daughter could have a significant role to play,' urging the ambassador to encourage his daughter to reconnect with her mother. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Kuki Inpi, the highest governing body of the Kuki tribe in Assam, clarified that Kuki customary law cannot dissolve a church-conducted Christian marriage or force a couple to reunite against their wishes, aligning with the High Court's stance.
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
Ports, cities, sports on agenda of Andhra Pradesh CMs day two of Singapore tour
Amaravati, July 28 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on the second day of his five-day Singapore tour, will focus on port-led development, urban planning and international sports collaboration. According to a press release, Naidu is slated to hold a meeting with Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng on Monday morning, discussing energy, science, technology, and industrial cooperation between Singapore and Andhra Pradesh. 'On the second day of his five-day visit to Singapore, Naidu will hold meetings with several organisational heads, including representatives of the Singapore government. The discussions will centre around urban development, sports, and port-led industrial growth," said the release. The chief minister is scheduled to meet Airbus representatives, followed by an interaction with Honeywell officials to discuss industrial technology collaborations. Naidu will participate in a Business Round Table titled 'From Skills to Competencies, accelerating Workforce Transformation'. Students from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU), and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will attend. He is expected to meet Simon Tan, Chairman of EverVolt, to explore green energy and battery storage solutions, followed by a visit to Singapore Sports School. The TDP supremo will visit the Tuas Port and later meet Port of Singapore Authority CEO Vincent to discuss smart logistics, export infrastructure and large-scale industrial clusters. Naidu will present Andhra Pradesh's development roadmap at the Andhra–Singapore Business Forum in the afternoon, followed by a strategic meeting with Adani Ports MD Karan Adani in the evening. PTI MS GDK NSD NSD (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 08:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
