Maharashtra government approves Varavara Rao's treatment at Nanavati hospital

Mumbai : Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked Maharashtra government to shift 81-year-old activist-poet Varavara Rao from Taloja Central jail hospital to Nanavati Hospital for 15 days for medical examination and treatment.

A Division Bench of justices S.S. Shinde and Madhav Jamdar conducted a physical hearing during vacation, terming it an urgent matter.

Advocate representing Varavara Rao told the court about his ailments and requested them to shift him to Nanavati hospital; the court insisted that Chief Public Prosecutor Deepak Thakare take instructions on the same.

Mr. Thakare informed the court that State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had agreed to shift Mr. Rao to Nanavati Hospital for 15 days as a “special case” and not as a precedent.

While dictating the order, the court also allowed family members to visit him in the hospital. The matter will now be heard on December 3.

Ms. Jaisingh read a previous report by Nanavati Hospital, which mentioned he had dementia, had had a heart attack, liver failure, kidney failure and was COVID-19-positive. She added multiple post-COVID complications could take place in an elderly person and Mr. Rao was already bedridden and had urinary tract infection because his catheter was not changed for three months.