If it did not grant Rao medical bail, it would be abdicating its duty to protect the principles of human rights, the bench noted.
An accused in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case, Poet Varavara Rao, was granted interim bail for six months on Monday by the Bombay High Court. The 82 years old activist, who has been under custody awaiting trial since August 2018, should either surrender or apply for an extension after a bail period of six months, the bench said.
Varavara Rao was granted bail on the conditions that that he has to remain in Mumbai and should be available for investigation. He was also asked by the court to furnish personal bond of Rs. 50,000 and also to attend the NIA Court for trial.
“However, he may apply from exemption from personal appearance before NIA court,” the bench said.
Depending upon his condition today and to remain within jurisdiction of NIA Court Mumbai for a period of six months, Rao will be discharged from Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.
If it did not grant Rao medical bail, it would be abdicating its duty to protect the principles of human rights, and a citizen’s fundamental rights to life and health, the bench comprising of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale said.
The Bombay High Court, on February 1, had closed all arguments in the case and reserved its verdict on Rao’s medical bail plea and his wife Hemlatha’s writ petition that alleged a breach of his fundamental rights due to inadequate medical care and his continued incarceration.
This case is related to alleged provocative speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police say triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city
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