The Bombay High Court Monday directed the Nanavati hospital to submit a fresh report to the Court indicating the health status of Dr. PV Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik also ordered Dr. Rao’s continued treatment at Nanavati hospital till the next date of hearing i.e. January 7, 2021.
It also asked the State Government to make available to the court and the petitioner the ailing poet’s complete medical report (generated in Talojia jail hospital, JJ hospital, St. George hospital).
The bench was hearing a plea filed by Dr. Rao seeking bail on medical grounds as well as a writ petition filed by his wife alleging violation of her husband’s right to life, dignity and health on account of the ‘degrading’ and ‘inhumane’ treatment being meted out to Dr. Rao in Tajolia jail.
Chief Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare, for the State government, said that the Nanavati hospital report said Dr. Rao was fit to be discharged from there. Thakare suggested that he be shifted to JJ hospital now. But the bench turned down the request and said it would consider it at the next hearing.
During the hearing, the bench also remarked that the matter had to be heard finally as there had been considerable delay in deciding the pleas.
As the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, for NIA, was occupied in some other part-heard matter, the bench proceeded to list the matter on January 7 for final hearing.
Senior advocate Anand Grover appearing for Dr. Rao submitted, on instruction from Dr. Rao’s family, that they were satisfied with the treatment and facilities being provided to Dr. Rao at Nanavati hospital. He, however, submitted that Dr. Rao was still being closely monitored as his BP was fluctuating and he was giddy most of the time.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising who is representing Dr. Rao’s wife in the writ petition told the bench she would take at least an hour to conclude her submission, which would not be overlapping with the submissions of Grover.
The High Court on November 18 shifted the ailing Telugu poet to Nanavati Hospital initially for 15 days for his medical examination. He has been in the Nanavati hospital since then.
The plea had stated that Dr. Rao was completely bedridden in jail in diapers and a urinary bag with two co-accused as his 24-hour attendants who were not medically trained persons. This, the plea, stated had caused him to suffer from further urinary infection and added to his medical woes.
Dr. Varavara Rao was arrested in 2018 in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links’ case.
