“The only thing I request is to consider for interim bail. I have been in deteriorating condition. I would rather be in Ranchi. I do not think any of that (hospitalization) is going to help.” Father Stan Swamy pleaded.
Octogenarian priest and accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, Father Stan Swamy today appeared before the Bombay High Court via video conferencing and pleaded for interim bail. Swamy also said that he does not want to get hospitalized at JJ hospital but would rather die in jail.
In accordance with the previous order of the Court, Father Swamy after being examined by the doctors at Sir JJ Hospital on Thursday was produced before the bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and SP Tavade .from Taloja prison. JJ Hospital authorities also submitted a report on Father Swamy’s health condition to the bench.
Upon being presented, Justice Kathawalla asked Father Swamy if he was being generally treated well within the Taloja jail premises and if he had been examined at Sir JJ Hospital.
Accompanied by jail authorities sitting next to him, informing him about the question from the court as he could not hear the questions clearly, in a weak voice he said,
“I was brought to Taloja jail eight months ago and since then there has been a slow degeneration of my body. When I came here, my body was very functional. Earlier, I could take a bath by myself, some writing by myself. But these are disappearing one after another. Taloja jail has brought me to a situation where I can neither write nor go for a walk by myself or eat. I am not able to meet this demand. Eating is also difficult. Someone has to feed me with a spoon.”
-father stan swamy to bombay hc
Justice Kathawalla then asked if he was willing to get admitted to JJ hospital for a few days till his general health improves.
Swamy clarified that he does not want to get admitted to the state-run JJ hospital as he had been to that hospital twice before. He also added that he didn’t wish to get admitted anywhere and wanted to go back to his hometown of Ranchi.
“I have been there (JJ) twice. I am not for being hospitalized in JJ Hospital. It will not improve, it will keep going. I would rather die here very shortly if things go on as it is,” the octogenarian said, reported Bar&Bench
“The only thing I request is to consider for interim bail. I have been in deteriorating condition. I would rather be in Ranchi. I do not think any of that (hospitalization) is going to help.” he pleaded.
Also Read: Bhima Koregaon, Elgar Parishad: One-Sided Probe
Senior Advocate Mihir Desai asked the Court to grant him some time to confer with Stan Swamy before taking a decision on proceeding with the hearing on interim bail.
“Since he is a priest, he has this approach that ‘forgive them and let me suffer’, so if he agrees, grant me the liberty to move,” Desai requested.
The Court posted the matter for hearing on June 7, 2021.
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