Suspected Maoist admitted to AIIMS: Delhi Police to HC

The Delhi High Court was Tuesday informed by AIIMS and the city police that a suspected Maoist prisoner, who has been awaiting surgery for removal of a brain tumour, has been admitted to the hospital.

The hospital and police told Justice Vibhu Bakhru that after its direction, Chandan Deonath, who was lying in a pitiable condition at the Hauz Khas police station for nearly two weeks, has now been given immediate treatment.

Deonath, with his right side partially paralysed and in judicial custody since Nov 27, 2007, was brought to Delhi from the Saraikela prison in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur district earlier this month after doctors referred him to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for surgery.

AIIMS had kept him on the waiting list, given the long queue the institute has for such surgeries.

Deonath had to wait for his turn, which could have taken a minimum of three months.

But since there was no facility in the hospital to keep him admitted for a long time, he was put up on the second floor verandah of Hauz Khas police station since Sep 9.

Deonath was initially treated at the Ranchi Institute of Medical Sciences and was diagnosed with a brain tumour and advised urgent surgery.

The hospital in Ranchi referred him to AIIMS Aug 28.

Hailing from Hoogly, West Bengal, Deonath was arrested by Jharkhand Police in 2007 and booked under sedition charges on suspicion of being a Maoist. He is also awaiting completion of trial.