The Supreme Court on Friday, August 7, 2026, declined to interfere with the Gujarat High Court’s decision refusing to suspend the life sentence of Narayan Sai, son of self-styled godman Asaram, in a 2013 rape case.
A Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale said it was not inclined to examine Sai’s plea seeking suspension of his sentence, particularly after the Gujarat government agreed to an expeditious hearing of his pending appeal against the conviction.
The top court, however, directed the Gujarat High Court to decide Sai’s appeal within three months. The direction effectively places the focus on an early adjudication of his challenge to the conviction rather than on interim suspension of the life sentence.
Sai had approached the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court declined to suspend his life sentence in connection with the rape case. He sought relief from the apex court while his appeal against the conviction remains pending before the High Court.
During the hearing, the Gujarat government assured the Supreme Court that the appeal could be heard and decided expeditiously. Taking note of this assurance, the Bench said there was no need for it to examine Sai’s plea at this stage.
The Supreme Court’s order means that Sai will continue to remain subject to the life sentence while his appeal is pending before the Gujarat High Court. The High Court has now been asked to complete the hearing and pronounce its decision within the stipulated three-month period.
The case dates back to 2013, when allegations of rape were levelled against Narayan Sai. He was subsequently convicted in the case and sentenced to life imprisonment. His conviction and sentence have since been under challenge before the Gujarat High Court.
The latest Supreme Court intervention does not amount to any finding on the merits of Sai’s appeal. Instead, it ensures that his challenge to the conviction is considered within a defined timeframe.
The direction is significant as prolonged pendency of criminal appeals can become an important consideration when an accused is serving a substantial sentence. By asking the High Court to decide the appeal within three months, the Supreme Court has sought to bring greater expedition to the judicial process while leaving the substantive question of Sai’s conviction to the High Court.
Sai is the son of Asaram, who is also serving a life sentence in a separate rape case. Both cases have attracted considerable public attention because of the high-profile status of the accused and the serious nature of the allegations.
For now, Narayan Sai’s life sentence remains in force. His immediate legal avenue is the pending appeal before the Gujarat High Court, which has been directed by the Supreme Court to decide the matter within three months.
Leave Your Comment