'We Don't Have Father Stan Swamy's Sipper & Straw With Us', Says NIA

A Special NIA Court in Mumbai directed the concerned medical officer in Taloja jail to reply to the requirement of a straw and sipper filed by 83-year-old Father Stan Swamy, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease after the National Investigation Agency expressed its inability to provide a straw and sipper for the Jesuit priest accused in the cast based violence at Bhima Koregaon.Finally, Court directed the medical officer to reply to the requirement of straw and sipper along with winter clothes. The matter will now be heard on December 4.Special NIA Judge DE Kothalikar was hearing the application filed by Father Swamy on November 6 seeking permission to allow him a straw and sipper in Taloja Central Jail as he is unable to hold a glass because he has Parkinson's Disease.Advocate Sharif Shaikh appeared on behalf of Father Stan Swamy and Special Public Prosecutor Prakash Shetty for NIA.Speaking to Livelaw, SPP Shetty said-"Actually, they (Stan Swamy's lawyers) never applied for straw and sipper. They claimed that while arresting him we had recovered the straw and sipper from him. We simply said that we have recovered no such articles from him, so how can we provide."Last month, citing charges under UAPA against Father Stan Swamy, Judge Kothalikar had rejected his medical bail. The bail application was filed citing the pandemic situation and his various comorbidities. Apart from suffering from Parkinson's, Father Swamy has almost lost hearing in both his ears and has fallen in jail multiple times. Also, he has been operated for hernia twice and still has pain in his lower abdomen. Stan Swamy is one of the accused in the caste based violence that took place at Bhima Koregaon and is currently in the prison hospital. He was arrested by the NIA on October 8 from his residence at Ranchi and was brought to Mumbai the next day. He was remanded to judicial custody from October 9.Apart from Father Swamy, 81-year-old Varvara Rao is another octogenarian accused in the case who has several comorbidities and even contracted Covid-19 in jail. He has sought bail on medical grounds several times but his request has been denied. Recently, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising appeared on VV Rao's behalf and sought his transfer to Nanavati hospital which was allowed by the High Court.

'We Don't Have Father Stan Swamy's Sipper & Straw With Us', Says NIA

Nitish Kashyap

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