Varavara Rao Need Not Surrender Till September 25, Says Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned till September 24 the hearing on the plea for interim bail extension of poet-activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, and said he need not surrender to Taloja prison authorities till September 25.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the case, opposed Mr Rao's plea for the extension of medical bail and to shift to Hyderabad from Mumbai, saying his medical reports did not indicate that he suffers from any serious medical ailment.

Mr Rao (82), who was granted interim bail on medical grounds in February 22 this year, was scheduled to surrender and return to judicial custody on September 5.

But, last week, the activist, through lawyer R Sathyanarayanan and senior counsel Anand Grover, filed an application seeking extension of the bail.

Mr Rao had also sought permission to stay in his hometown Hyderabad while out on bail, saying he found living in Mumbai and accessing health facilities unaffordable.

In its affidavit filed before the High Court on Monday, the NIA said, "The medical reports filed by the applicant do not disclose any major ailment which necessitates him to take treatment at Hyderabad, neither it forms a ground for further extension (of bail)."

The NIA, in its affidavit, further said the Taloja prison, located in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, had adequate health care facilities and Mr Rao can be provided with the "best medical facilities" there.

The probe agency also said Mr Rao should not be granted bail extension and should not be allowed to shift to Hyderabad as he is accused of committing a "serious" offence.

"They (Rao) cannot expect the Hon'ble courts to pass orders as per their convenience, especially when the accused has prima facie committed offence of serious nature," the NIA said in its affidavit.

As part of the stringent interim bail conditions imposed by the High Court, Mr Rao has been staying with his wife in a rented accommodation in Mumbai.

When he was granted bail, Rao was undergoing treatment for multiple ailments at the city-based private Nanavati Hospital, where was admitted by prison authorities following the HC's intervention.

On Monday, Grover told a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar that after being discharged from the Nanavati Hospital in February this year, Rao had developed three additional health ailments.

NIA's counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, told the High Court that the central agency had filed a "detailed affidavit" opposing Mr Rao's plea.

The bench, however, pointed out that it had an administrative meeting to attend and could not hear further arguments in the matter.

Grover then urged the HC to extend Mr Rao's date of surrender till the next date of hearing.

The HC agreed and said Rao needn't surrender till September 25, but added that he must continue adhering to the bail conditions until then, including staying within the jurisdiction of the Mumbai NIA court.

In his plea seeking extension of medical bail and modification of bail conditions, Rao said as per doctors of the Nanavati Hospital, he is suspected to have a neurological issue, known as cluster headache, which needs further examination.

Rao further said in the plea that he continues to suffer from multiple ailments, including urinary tract infection with recurrent hyponatremia, suspicion of Parkinsons' disease, lacunar infarcts in six major lobes of the brain, and some eye problems.

The activist contended that if he returned to custody in the Taloja prison, which was not equipped to cater to his medical problems, his health would certainly deteriorate and he might die.

Thus, he sought that his medical bail be extended for another six months.

"All medical parameters of the applicant go to show that if he is sent back to judicial custody, it will not be long before his condition reverts back to what it was," Rao's plea read.

Rao also said in his plea that he found living in Mumbai and accessing health facilities here unaffordable, and urged the HC to let him stay in Hyderabad while out in bail.

The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the ''Elgar Parishad'' conclave, held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the city's outskirts.

The Pune police had claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists.