Hyderabad/Mumbai, May 30 : Activist Varavara Rao, who has been lodged in a Maharashtra jail in the Elgar Parishad case, has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai even as his family members sought his release on bail, police said today.
Rao has been admitted to J J Hospital in Mumbai while he is in Judicial custody of National Investigating Agency (NIA). Family members have been informed that arrangements have been made by police to issue passes to his family members to travel to Mumbai. Rao’s wife Hemlata, in a statement, expressed serious concern over his health condition. She hoped that the government would take enough measures to provide treatment to Rao particularly in COVID-19 situation.
The Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said the city police was coordinating with the agencies in Mumbai in this case. 80-year-old Rao is lodged in Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai. Police had informed Rao’s family last night about admitting him to a Mumbai hospital. Family sources said they are taking steps to seek bail in an appropriate court.
Meanwhile, Hemlata has urged the Centre and the Governments of Maharashtra and Telangana to make arrangements for a video conference so that the family is able to speak to Rao about his health condition.
She also demanded that Rao has been in jail since last 18 months without a trial on “fabricated” charges and therefore he should be released on bail immediately. Moreover, he has health issues such as coronary heart disease and hypertension.
Hemlata further said that it was the responsibility of Telangana Government to take care of Rao’s health as he had take part in separate Telangana
Agitation since 1969 as a worthy son of Telangana.
Meanwhile, CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy, sought Rao’s release and demanded shifting him to a Hyderabad hospital.
In another development, Union Minister of State for home, KIshan Reddy, said in New Delhi at a video press conference that he would take steps as per law. “I cannot talk about this matter openly”. Definitely, the matter of health of any citizen is important to us and we shall take steps as per law,” he added.
Eleven people including Rao have been arrested in Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case which was transferred to NIA by the Centre early this year.
The case pertains to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune in December 2017 which the police alleged had triggered off violence on the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial. According to police, the conclave was backed by Maoists.
