The state government of Maharashtra told the Bombay High Court on Thursday, 2 September, that journalist and Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha will be taken to the Tata Memorial Center in Kharghar for a medical checkup on Friday, 3 September.
In a plea moved by Navlakha's counsel, advocate Yug Chaudhary stated that he has developed a lump in his chest.
The bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar had sought the state's answers in the matter, and asked them if they would be willing to take him for the necessary medical examinations at the petitioner's cost.
The high court also issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the state over Navlakha's plea seeking house arrest until the end of his Bhima Koregaon trial, LiveLaw reported.
Chaudhary stated, "As I was saying, he has a lump in his chest. His sister is a nurse in Jaslok, she will make arrangements."
However, ASG Anil Singh claimed that the 'state's facilities are good enough' and directed him to be taken to the Tata Memorial, LiveLaw reported.
To this, Chaudhary responded, "This is vindictiveness. What is the problem? People have to beg for the smallest of things in jail."
However, responding to the court's suggestion to make an application requesting tests at Jaslok Hospital, the counsel stated,
"Let them take him to Tata Memorial, because when your client says there is a lump that may possibly lead to cancer, such delays cannot be there."Advocate Yug Chaudhary, as per LiveLaw
Navlakha Moves Bombay HC, Seeks House Arrest
On Thursday, the 69-year-old who is presently lodged in Taloja prison had approached the Bombay High Court seeking house arrest owing to his deteriorating medical condition.
In his plea, he sough the court's directions to Taloja prison authorities to let him get medically examined for a lump developed in his chest. Chaudhry, as well as Navlakha's other counsel and Payoshi Roy had submitted that the medical examination was imperative to rule out cancer, news agency PTI reported.
Navlakha is one of the 11 activists, academics, and lawyers who were accused of having Naxal links and giving inflammatory speeches at Pune’s Elgar Parishad meet, which instigated the violence in Bhima Koregaon on 1 January 2018.
He, among others, was booked by the Pune Police under the contentious Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.
(With inputs from Livelaw and PTI)
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