COVID infects ailing Hany Babu in jail, Kerala CM intervenes for treatment

Mumbai: Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu, who is held in a Mumbai jail as undertrial in connection with the Elgar Parishad case, is reported to have tested positive for COVID. Earlier, his family and lawyers had reported that his eye infection was deteriorating, posing a risk of spreading to the brain.

As his health was seen failing, the jail authority had shifted him first to the JJ Hospital in Mumbai and later to GT Hospital. The doctors reportedly confirmed him testing positive and that his left eye continues to be sore with double vision.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan promised to intervene for availing better treatment for Hany Babu on request from his family members.

Vijayan was reacting to a request from Hany Babu's family to make proper treatment available to him. He added that he has instructed the Chief Secretary for necessary follow up in the matter.

The Keralite professor and human rights activist Hany Babu has been in Taloja jail in Maharashtra after being arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad case about the Bhima-Koregaon protests. His wife and members of the family had mentioned in the letter to the chief minister that his health was deteriorating, that he had an eye infection and there was a risk of that spreading to the brain.

Hany Babu, hailing from Trissur and associate professor of English at Delhi University, was arrested on 29 July 2020. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged him with conspiracy during the commemoration of the Bhima-Koregaon and accusing him of propagating Maoist ideas.

Hany Babu was the 12th person to be arrested in connection with the case, the others including Telugu poet Varavara Rao. He was also a member of a committee working for the release of former Delhi University professor GN Sai Baba, who is now in Nagpur serving a life term for Maoist links.