Bombay High Court directs NIA to take Varavara Rao to private hospital for medical examination

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take Bhima Koregaon accused Varavara Rao to a private hospital for medical examination at the expense of the agency..The directions were passed by a Bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and SV Kotwal in the previous hearing itself. However, due to confusion on who would bear the expense for Rao's medical examination, the examination could not be completed.In view of the fact that his medical examination could not be completed, Rao’s fresh plea to be allowed to move to Hyderabad during the period of medical bail was not heard..On Monday, the Bench also pulled up the lawyers for not taking measures to seek clarification of its previous order.“His (Rao’s) grounds are entirely medical (for seeking extension of bail). Your response to that requires medical report!” Bench said to NIA..While granting another opportunity to NIA to facilitate a medical examination of Rao, the Court asked the agency to relay its message to the medical authorities to simplify their reports.“Tell the hospital authorities to not give the report in technical jargons so that we understand,” the Bench said..Rao meanwhile filed a fresh writ petition through advocate R Satyanarayanan seeking permission to stay at his permanent home in Secunderabad, Telangana.Alternatively, he sought for leave to go to Hyderabad to undertake medical interventions on the terms and conditions imposed by the High Court..Rao’s petition essentially sought modification of the order dated February 22, 2021 granting him interim medical bail of six months, which was extended from time to time.He pointed out that living in Mumbai with multiple medical ailments to tend to was turning out to be expensive. Rao was spending about ₹96,000 per month, while the pension that he received from the State of Telangana was only ₹50,000.Rao argued that by staying in Hyderabad, he may end up saving money, considering the fact that the cost of living and medical expenses are lower in Telangana..He also cited medical reasons such as cataract surgery, Parkinson's and umbilical hernia which required constant medical intervention. He had recently undergone surgery of the hernia, after which he required a full-time care taker to look after him..Rao filed for extension of medical bail in August 2021 and for modification of the conditions of bail. However, NIA took strong objection to the prayer for modification in a disposed off application.Thereafter, when the Court instructed Rao to file a petition with fresh grounds, Rao filed the present writ petition.