Varavara Rao, 81, Granted Bail On Medical Grounds By High Court

The 81-year-old poet-activist Varavara Rao who has now been in jail for over 2 years in the Bhima-Koregaon case was granted bail on medical grounds by the Bombay High Court for six months. Currently he is undergoing his treatment in Nanavati Hospital where he was admitted by the government of Maharashtra after the high court intervened. Rao has been asked by the court to be in Mumbai and be available for investigations whenever needed. His passport has also to be submitted to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court. The high court has forbidden him to have any sort of contact with the co-accused with the case and has asked to submit a bond of 50000 rupees and two sureties of the same amount.

Today the high court said that if it would not grant medical bail to Mr Rao, it would be abdicating its duty to protect the principles of human rights and a citizen’s fundamental rights to life and health.

Since August 28, 2018 Rao has been in custody and is awaiting his trial in the case. Varavara Rao and nine other activists were accused of plotting violence with the Maoist. ‘Veerasm’ an association of revolutionary writers was headed by Mr Rao and he has strongly denied the charges against them all. Lawyer Indira Jaising highlighted the poor health condition of Mr Rao in the Bombay High Court and urged the court to let Mr Rao out of Taloja prison where he is lodged as an under trial and permit him to go home and live with his family in Hyderabad.