Court rejects P Varavara Rao's bail plea

A special court in Pune, rejected on Monday, the temporary bail application of activist and poet P. Varavara Rao who is currently lodged in a prison here. Rao wanted temporary bail to visit his hometown to perform the post-death rituals of his sister-in-law who died on April 22.

The prosecution, objecting to the temporary bail to Rao, cited a letter to Pune’s Joint Commissioner of Police by the Hyderabad Superintendent of Police (Special Intelligence Branch) which stated, “Considering the seriousness of the crime, there is a possibility that the accused may abscond if he is allowed to attend the last rites of his relative. There is also a possibility



of a serious attack by Naxalites on the police party who will be deputed for an escort,” the letter added.

Rao’s relatives in Hyderabad are very upset with the rejection of the bail.

N. Venugopal Rao, nephew of Varavara Rao said, “On May 3, we have the rituals of the death of his sister-in-law, wife of his elder brother. The bail petition was filed as he is an elder member of the family and it would be a support to the family to have him in our midst during this tough time. While he does not believe in religious matters his moral support would have helped the family.”