Elgar Parishad case accused Gautam Navlakha to be taken to hospital for treatment

Gautam Navlakh's lawyer, Yug Chaudhry, told the Bombay High Court that considering a history of cancer in Navlakha's family, there was an apprehension that the lump might be malignant, so it needed to be examined urgently.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court that the 2018 Elgar Parishad case accused Gautam Navlakha would be taken to the Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer at Kharghar, Mumbai, to examine a lump growing in his chest. Public Prosecutor Sangeeta Shinde said Navlakha would be taken for a medical examination on Friday.Navlakh's counsel, Yug Chaudhry, had moved an urgent request before the division bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice NJ Jamadar. He told the court that considering a history of cancer in Navlakha's family, there was an apprehension that the lump might be malignant, so it needed to be examined urgently.Chaudhry said that Navlakha's sister works in Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, so he would be more comfortable getting examined at Jaslok.However, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh stated that while he could not oppose taking a prisoner for treatment, he objected to the petitioner giving a choice of hospital. Singh said that Navlakha could be taken to a government hospital like TATA Memorial Centre, renowned for its cancer treatment.ALSO READ: Elgar Parishad case: NIA court rejects interim bail pleas of accused Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha Chaudhry termed this "vindictive" and added that Navlakha would be visiting the hospital at his own expense, so there would be no financial burden on the state.However, Chaudhry conceded to the Kharghar institute. "When your client tells you there is a lump which could be cancer, you don't want such delays", Chaudhry said.Chaudhry's oral request for examination came in a petition filed by Navlakha seeking transfer from prison to judicial custody through house arrest.Navlakha's plea points out that he was being denied basic medical and other necessities in Taloja Central Jail and was suffering great hardships at his advanced age. He highlighted that he had been under house arrest for 35 days before being protected from arrest and after that, for over one year and 7 months, without any prejudice having been caused to the investigation agencies.ALSO READ: Elgar Parishad case: Bombay HC reserves order on bail pleas of 7 accused