The Bombay HC on Wednesday observed that ‘we are all humans’ and asked the National Investigation Agency and the Maharashtra Government to consider the health and age of the Telugu poet-activist Varavara Rao before making submissions in response to his bail plea application on medical grounds.
A bench comprising of Justices Manish Pitale and Sambaji Shinde asked the Government to be considerate of his current age (88 years) and his ailing health conditions before making submissions to oppose his bail pleas.
The NIA is going to commence its arguments for opposing Varavara Rao’s bail plea on medical grounds on the hearing date posted on Thursday.
What was the plea?
The petitions were being filed by Rao and his wife Hemalatha, seeking his release from the Taloja jail based in Navi Mumbai on medical grounds.
Hemalatha through her Advocate Indira Jaisingh claimed that her husband’s health deteriorated while he was in jail and had developed a lot of complications due to his stay in prison. She alleged the jail authorities for not taking good care of her husband due to which these complications have occurred. She further pleaded that her husband is shifted to a private hospital.
Last year, in November a bench headed by Justice Shinde directed Rao’s admission to the city-based Nanavati hospital to carry forward his post-covid treatment. Since then he had been undergoing his treatment in the hospital and the Doctors have been filing periodical reports mentioning his health status.
On the previous date of hearing the reports mentioned that there have been visible improvements in Rao’s health and now he can walk.
With regard to this, the NIA and the state are arguing that Rao must first be sent to Jail and then the court must decide on whether his bail plea should be entertained or not. Hemalatha, Rao’s wife has been arguing that the court must first examine the bail plea on medical grounds and then take a decision on whether Rao has to be sent to the jail or the private hospital.
Varavara Rao and other activists have been booked for instigating the Bhima Koregaon violence as well as plotting to kill the PM Narendra Modi. He has also been accused of having links with the banned party CPI-M.
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