Court Denies Asaram Ashram's Plea Over Land Takeover for Sports Development

The Gujarat High Court has dismissed appeals by Asaram Bapu's ashram challenging an eviction order to repurpose land for a sports facility. The dispute involves over 45,000 sq meters of land designated for the Sardar Patel Sports Complex ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Judges Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice DN Ray found the trust guilty of violating land allotment conditions and encroaching on adjacent riverside land. The court underscored that none of the ashram's petitions could be upheld, as regularizing the encroached land would defy an apex court decision.

Asaram, serving a life sentence for rape, had his followers appealing the notices denouncing the government's motives. However, the trust's request to stall the eviction order was rejected, with the government set to reissue the notice, offering time for compliance.