Mumbai: Poet and activist P. Varavara Rao (79) tested Covid- 19 positive on Thursday, who has been in jail for nearly two years in the Elgar Parishad case. He was admitted to J.J Hospital on Monday night after he fell ill and underwent a series of tests.

The hospital authorities said he was shifted to St. George hospital on Thursday evening as J.J is non- Covid- 19 hospital. He is not showing any symptoms and is stable, said doctors. Varavara Rao’s family visited him in hospital on Wednesday after arriving from Hyderabad and was appalled by his condition. They alleged that his bed and clothes were soiled. The family said he was unable to recognize his wife and his daughters.

We have repeatedly approached police, Telangana and Maharashtra State Governments, Central Government and even Courts seeking Varavara Rao’s release from prison from health grounds in view of the pandemic. Unfortunately our pleas were rejected. After coming to know that he tested positive for Covid-19, the entire family is in shock, said Varavara Rao’s Son -in – Law K. Satyanarayana.

He is lodged at Taloja Jail in Navy Mumbai. This is second time he was taken to hospital since the case was transfer to a city court. He and other accused in the Elgar Parishad case were moved from Eravada Jail in Pune to the Navy Mumbai prison in February 2020. Varavara Rao’s pleas for interim bail, citing is susceptibility to the virus due to his age and other ailments, have twice been rejected by the special NIA court.

His defence has told the court that he was suffering from several ailments including a Coronary artery disease and Hipo tension. His defence team added that they will inform the Bombay high court about his diagnosis on Friday, when his bail plea comes up for hearing. Varavara Rao’s family said they feared for his life due to his deteriorating health and the states negligence.