HC permits Asaram to get home food in jail

In a relief for self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who has been in jail for over five months for sexually assaulting a minor, Rajasthan High Court today allowed him to have two meals a day from outside of the jail.

The single judge Jodhpur Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta admitted his plea for provision of home-made food in jail and granted his wish for two meals a day.

"We had moved an application in the High Court seeking permission to provide food from outside of the jail to Asaram. The court admitted our plea and granted permission for food to Asaram in jail from outside," Asaram's counsel Pradeep Choudhary said.

The food will be provided under Rule 223 of Jail Manual, and will be checked properly by jail authorities.

"We had objected to the plea citing security concerns, but Justice Sandeep Mehta, in the light of Rule 223 of Jail Manual, granted permission for food to Asaram from outside jail stating that the food will be properly checked by the jail authorities," Additional Advocate General Rajesh Panwar said.

He said the rule had provision of making food, bedding and clothing available to under-trials from outside the jail.

Asaram had earlier petitioned a lower court for special food containing medicinal herbs, which he usually took to keep himself fit. But the court had rejected his plea after which he moved the High Court.

Asaram has been lodged in jail since his arrest in August last year on charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram here.

Meanwhile, the District and Session Court here rejected the defence's plea to make the call details and CD of the recording of the statements of the victim by the police in New Delhi available to them.

In a fresh application, Asaram's counsel has sought the copy of the statements of the witnesses. The hearing on this petition will be held on Tuesday.