A Delhi court on Tuesday deferred Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad’s plea for medical treatment tomorrow. The court asked the investigation officer (IO) to present the medical report of Azad before it.

Azad, an influential figure among Dalits, was jailed for participating in anti-CAA protests in New Delhi in December.

Many congress leaders have come in support of medical treatment for Azad. On Jan 5, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had tweeted urging the government to free him and provide medical treatment. She tweeted: “The government’s policy of oppressing all expressions of dissent and protest has reached the point of cowardice. The lack of basic humanity in their actions is shameful. There are absolutely no grounds to keep Chandrashekhar in jail, let alone deny him medical treatment, if he is unwell. He should be sent to AIIMS to be treated immediately.” Another Congress leader Jitin Prasada had said: “…The kind of ill treatment the government has meted out to the Dalits and minorities, the way they have dealt with Chandrashekhar Azad case is unacceptable.”

A Delhi court on Dec 21 while dismissing the bail plea of Azad had sent him to 14 days judicial custody, following his arrest in connection with the violence during an anti-CAA protest in Daryaganj area.

While dismissing the bail plea, court had said: “Considering that substantial grounds for granting bail to the accused are not made out. Accordingly, the application of accused for grant of bail stands dismissed and accused be sent to judicial custody for 14 days and thereafter be produced before the concerned court for further orders.”

—India Legal Bureau