India, June 30 -- The Supreme Court refused to grant immediate bail to self-styled godman Asaram in the 2013 Jodhpur rape case, declining his plea for interim relief on medical grounds while agreeing to hear his appeal against the Rajasthan High Court's judgment upholding his conviction.

A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Sheel Nagu issued notice to the Rajasthan government on Asaram's special leave petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court's May 2026 verdict, which upheld his conviction and life sentence for the sexual assault of a minor devotee.

During the hearing, Asaram's counsel sought interim bail, citing his advanced age of 90 and deteriorating health. However, the Supreme Court said it would first hear the state's...