Bombay HC gives reasons for denying permanent bail to Varavara Rao, directs review of medical facilities in all prisons in Maharashtra [read order]

23/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sarah Thanawala

On Friday, the Bombay High Court’s division bench of justices Sunil B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap passed the reasoned order to extend the temporary bail, of poet-activist and Bhima Koregaon case accused P. Varavara Rao, by three months.  The Court had earlier passed the initial order on April 13 to this effect.
The Court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by Rao, which prayed for modification of the High Court’s previous order releasing him on temporary medical bail on the condition that he wouldn’t leave the jurisdiction of Mumbai. Rao had prayed to the court to modify his temporary release into a permanent medical bail and to allow him to move to Hyderabad, where his family resides, as the cost of living in Mumbai was very high for him.
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Take Corrective Measures So Accused Can’t Cite Poor Medical Facilities To Seek Bail: Bombay HC To Jail Authorities On Dismissing Varavara Rao’s Plea

23/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court has issued certain directions for improving prison conditions and medical facilities therein, so that complaints of Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao as well as those made by other prison inmates are addressed, and there is no scope for them to seek bail on those grounds in the future.
“If the strict view of the matter is not taken and appropriate directions are not issued to rectify the deficiencies, all the under-trial prisoners would make a grievance of the same and apply for bail,” their order refusing permanent bail on medical grounds to Rao.
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Varavara Rao pleas dismissed, HC asks prison to adopt measures to improve medical facilities

23/04/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Rao, who was arrested in August 2018, had contended that Varavara Rao’s condition was worsening due to Parkinson’s and his health is incompatible with the environment of Taloja central jail.
The Bombay High Court, while dismissing pleas filed by Elgaar Parishad case accused Varavara Rao, who had sought permanent medical bail and permission to shift to Hyderabad citing ill health and high expenses in Mumbai, has directed that corrective measures be adopted to improve conditions and medical facilities at state prisons.
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‘Seriousness & Severity Of Crime Would Remain Till Such Time The Accused Is Pronounced Not Guilty’: Bombay HC While Rejecting Varavara Rao’s Bail Plea

23/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

Refusing to grant permanent bail on medical grounds to Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused poet Varavara Rao the Bombay High Court said that prima facie observations regarding “seriousness and severity” of the crime he is accused of would remain till he is pronounced “not guilty.”
Therefore, based on Rao’s sound clinical summary dated December 15, 2021, and the allegations against him of being the “main conspirator,” he was not entitled to medial bail, the court held.
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