India, June 30 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to consider suspending the sentence of self-styled godman Asaram or releasing him on bail at this stage while agreeing to examine his challenge to a Rajasthan High Court judgment upholding his conviction for sexually assaulting a minor devotee at his Jodhpur ashram in 2013.

A bench of justices MM Sundresh and Sheel Nagu issued notice to the Rajasthan government on Asaram's petition challenging the high court verdict but made it clear that no interim relief would be granted without first hearing the state and unless his medical condition demonstrated a grave threat to life.

"We are not granting bail now. Subject to hearing the State, we will consider if there is grave necessity to g...