​​Delhi court stays publication of book on Asaram Bapu's case

NEW DELHI: A local Court at Patiala House on Friday stayed the publication of a book titled “Gunning for the Godman: The story behind Asaram Bapu’s conviction”.
The book- a police officer’s first hand account of his arrest and conviction- was slated for release on Saturday (September 5).

Staying the publication and release of book till September 30, the Court held “Sanchita Gupta’s reputation is at stake and her reputation would suffer irreparable harm if the ex parte injunction is not granted particularly when the book is going to be published on September 5”.

Sanchita Gupta, a co-accused was convicted by a Rajasthan Court in 2018. Appearing on her behalf, Advocate Vijay Aggarwal contended that the book was being published by Harper Collins and being released on September 5 both physically and online.

“The Book authored by Ajay Lamba, Additional Commissioner of Police, Jaipur and Sanjiv Mathur claims to be a true story, however, is at variance with the trial record and most importantly interfered with Sanchita’s appeal which was sub-judice and where the High Court of Rajasthan had already suspended her sentence”, Aggarwal contended.

Aggarwal further argued that an appeal is nothing but a continuation of the trial and when the sentence had been suspended, Sanchita was entitled to a presumption of innocence.

He further contended that it was completely possible that the High Court of Rajasthan could order a reexamination of witnesses or even a retrial and in such a circumstance the publication of the Book in its present form could not be allowed.

Aggarwal also averred that publication of the Book claiming to be the true story would prejudice Sanchita and run counter to her rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

In terms of the Order, Harper Collins, Amazon, and Flipkart have been restrained from publishing and selling the Book till September 30.