Asaram, who is serving life imprisonment in a rape case, has moved the Rajasthan High Court for parole for the second time. His lawyer said on Saturday that the High Court, while accepting his application, issued a notice to the state government on Friday and sought a reply within two weeks.

Asaram was convicted on April 25, 2018 on charges of sexually assaulting a teenage student of his ashram. Asaram's lawyer Kalu Ram Bhati said the district parole committee rejected his parole application for the second time on the grounds that his release on parole could create law and order problems.

The lawyer said that Asaram had filed an application seeking 20 days parole, but the committee had rejected it citing negative police report. Bhati argued in the court that Asaram has been serving a jail sentence for 11 years and even the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment had recommended parole for him.

Asaram's lawyer argued that his conduct during his entire period in jail has been satisfactory and he is entitled to parole due to his old age and health. However, Additional Advocate General Anil Joshi sought some time to file his reply, following which the division bench of Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Rajendra Prakash Soni directed him to file his reply in two weeks' time.

Asaram had moved the High Court in July. The committee had rejected Asaram's parole because he was not entitled to it under the provisions of the Rajasthan Parole Release of Prisoners, 2021 (Rules of 2021).

Asaram's lawyer had then argued that this rule did not apply to Asaram as he had been convicted and sentenced before it came into force. Then the High Court, while disposing of his application, had directed the committee to reconsider Asaram's parole application in the light of the old rules of 1958.

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