The Bombay High Court has permitted the shifting of poet and activist Varavara Rao to Mumbai's Nanavati Hospital for 15 days in view of his health.
The development comes after the Supreme Court's October 29 order directing the Bombay High Court to expeditiously consider the bail petition. The 82-year-old, who was arrested in 2018 under the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act or UAPA in connection with the Elgar Parishad case was earlier diagnosed with delirium - an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome and was reportedly COVID-19 positive. With regards to the arrest, the Police had alleged that in the event Elgaar Parishad, leftist groups and Naxalites had participated where speeches had been made including those by Rao and others which were responsible for inciting violence that occurred the next day.
The charges filed by the police include 'conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi', to 'overthrow the government', 'waging war against the Government of India' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Also, it has been alleged that some of the arrested individuals are active members of the banned CPI (Maoists) party. In January 2020, the case was transferred to the NIA.
In recent developments, in response to a plea from his wife, Rao has been allowed to avail treatment in the Nanavati Hospital. Speaking on his behalf, senior lawyer Indira Jaising asserted that Varavara Rao had sustained head injuries at the JJ Hospital, where he was admitted earlier when he tested positive for the coronavirus.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court was to hear the matter on Tuesday, however, after technical problems during an online hearing, a physical hearing in court was held today.
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