Bhima Koregaon: Bombay High Court seeks response on condition of Byculla women's prison in Sudha Bharadwaj plea for interim bail

The Bombay High Court on Friday sought a response from the National Investigating Agency (NIA) as well as state prison authorities on the condition of the Byculla women's prison, where activist Sudha Bharadwaj is currently lodged. The response was sought in an interim bail application filed by Bharadwaj, who is seeking temporary release on account of the COVID-19 pandemic..The Division Bench of Justices SS Shinde and Madhav Jamdar took up Bharadwaj's plea for interim bail via video conferencing on Friday. .Bhardwaj has sought interim bail on medical grounds. Her plea states that she has existing medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which makes her more prone and vulnerable to contracting the Coronavirus..On account of pre-existing conditions and comorbidities, Bhardwaj falls in the most vulnerable category in terms of COVID-19 fatalities, it is submitted in the plea. .In its response, NIA had opposed Bharadwaj's plea, stating that she is not entitled to interim bail on account of the seriousness of the offences she is charged with. The agency stated that Bharadwaj is “taking undue benefit of the pandemic” in seeking interim bail on medical grounds. The response states,.“Considering the nature of allegations against the appellant accused Sudha Bhardwaj and the evidence which has come on record so far against her, she is not entitled to seek any relief from this Hon’ble Court… no ground is made out for the grant of interim bail to the appellant accused as prayed.”.Bhima Koregaon: NIA opposes Sudha Bharadwaj’s interim bail plea before Bombay HC, says gravity of alleged offence makes her ineligible.The agency also said that the activist, on being checked by medical practitioners, was found to be in stable condition and is also being provided appropriate medical assistance in the prison where she is lodged..The Court will hear the case next on July 17..Earlier, the Special NIA Court in Mumbai had rejected Bharadwaj's plea for interim bail, filed in light of inmates in the Byculla women's prison testing positive for COVID-19. NIA had opposed the plea stating that her medical records showed no abnormalities..Bhima Koregaon: Special NIA Court in Mumbai rejects interim bail plea of Sudha Bhardwaj.Bharadwaj is one of the several activists, academicians, and lawyers whose houses were raided by the Pune Police in 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case..For close to two years now, Bhardwaj has remained incarcerated on charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The investigation in the case stands transferred from the Pune Police to the NIA..Read Order: