New Delhi: The Bombay High Court today rejected a petition filed by activist Sudha Bharadwaj, seeking bail on medical grounds in the Bhima Koregaon case.
A divisional bench of the court, comprising Justices R.D. Dhanuka and V.G. Bisht, while hearing the matter through video conferencing, noted that the prison authority will provide her medical assistance with regards to her chronic ailments.
The petition seeks and challenges the order of the special NIA Court rejecting her bail plea filed on medical grounds. Sudha is suffering from diabetes and hypertension and has a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. This puts her at a high risk of contracting COVID-19.
Sudha has been charged with offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for inciting caste-based violence which resulted in the Battle of Bhima Koregaon on its 200th anniversary.
The medical report submitted by the prison authorities as examined by a medical officer stated that her condition was found stable and satisfactory. Whereas the report submitted by the authorities in July stated she is suffering from the ischemic disease.
Advocate Ragini Ahuja, appearing for Sudha, submitted: “The two reports are contrary to each other and the report dated August 21 might be bogus. How can a person recover from heart disease in just four weeks?
However, ASG, Anil Singh, and Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare, appearing for the state, submitted that if she needed further treatment, including admitting to the hospital even a private one, we would provide the same.
The bench dismissed the petition stating that “In our view, no case is made out for grant of bail. This appeal is devoid of merits.”
-India Legal Bureau