Gujarat High Court Rejects Narayan Sai’s Petition to Suspend Life Sentence in Rape Case

The Gujarat High Court has denied a petition from Narayan Sai, the son of controversial spiritual leader Asaram, seeking to suspend his life sentence connected to serious allegations of rape. The court’s decision came during a hearing on Monday, where a bench, comprising Justices Ilesh J. Vora and R.T. Vachhani, expressed concerns about Sai’s lack of urgency in pursuing his legal appeal. The judges noted that Sai appeared to be employing “delay tactics” rather than actively working towards a swift resolution of his case.

In a significant case that dates back to 2013, two sisters from Surat had separately accused both Asaram and Narayan Sai of rape and illegal confinement. Following a thorough investigation, Narayan Sai was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Surat court in 2019 and has been incarcerated in a local jail ever since. The allegations against him and his father have drawn considerable media attention, raising questions about power dynamics and accountability within religious circles.

Sai’s plea for suspension of his life sentence was based on his claim of having already spent 11 years in prison, during which he argued that there had been undue delays in the processing of his criminal appeal. However, the High Court’s observations highlighted that Sai had not cooperated with the court since his sentencing, which has contributed to the prolonged nature of the appeals process. The judges pointed out that since the sentencing, he had made multiple attempts to secure temporary or permanent bail, which were rejected on various grounds.

The court also recalled that in 2021, it had scheduled the final hearing for Sai’s appeal but noted that he had failed to assist in moving the case forward. This lack of cooperation has led the justices to conclude that he is not genuinely interested in expediting the legal proceedings surrounding his case. The High Court emphasized that the justice system must not be manipulated for personal gain and that all parties must act in good faith.

The case continues to evolve as Narayan Sai battles against the life sentence imposed upon him, with significant public interest surrounding the outcome. The legal proceedings underscore the complexities of justice in high-profile cases involving influential figures and raise broader questions about gender violence and the protection of victims in India.

Source: scroll.in