The Delhi High Court has sought a medical report on PFI leader E Abubacker’s health after he requested treatment in a private hospital instead of AIIMS. The NIA opposed the plea, calling AIIMS the best medical facility.
New Delhi: On August 29, the Delhi High Court on Friday asked the jail authorities to submit a detailed medical report of Popular Front of India (PFI) leader E Abubacker, who has requested permission to shift from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to a private hospital for further treatment.
E Abubacker was arrested in November 2022 during a nationwide crackdown against the banned outfit. Currently, he is undergoing treatment at AIIMS, but his legal team has argued that he is not receiving proper care.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja, while hearing the matter, directed the jail authorities to provide a medical report. The High Court also issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and sought its response. The case has been listed for the next hearing on November 26.
The application before the High Court was filed after Abubacker’s earlier request for treatment in a private hospital was rejected by the Special NIA Court in New Delhi.
Advocate Adit S. Pujari, appearing for Abubacker, submitted before the court that his client is not satisfied with the treatment being given at AIIMS.
He also alleged that the medical staff at AIIMS was not treating him properly.
“He is not getting satisfactory treatment at AIIMS, and the conduct of the staff is hostile towards him.”
Pujari further argued that Abubacker has the legal and fundamental right to get treatment at a hospital of his choice. He also assured the court that his client was willing to bear the costs of private medical treatment.
“It was also argued that the accused has a fundamental right to receive treatment at the hospital of their choice. He is ready to pay the expenses.”
On the other side, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Rahul Tyagi appeared for the NIA and opposed the request. He told the court that Abubacker was already being treated in one of the top medical institutions in the country and there was no need to shift him elsewhere.
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“The applicant is getting treatment from the country’s best hospital, what else does he want?”
Tyagi also submitted that the medical treatment at AIIMS could be verified once the report was presented before the court.
“Please call a report from the AIIMS.”
The court has now directed that the medical report be produced before it and will take up the matter again in November.
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