23 August,2011 07:18 AM IST | | B V Shiva Shankar
Former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and ex-Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu appear to be using medical grounds to escape judicial custody
With various charges being leveled against them, former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and former Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu appear to be depending on doctors to avoid jail terms. While Yeddyurappa has extended his hospital stay, Katta Subramanya was admitted to Victoria Hospital after complaining of stomach pains early yesterday morning.
Upset tummy: Former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu is seeking
anticipatory bail on medical grounds even though doctors, attending
to the BJP leader, have declared him fit
Subramanya Naidu is serving jail term in the Central Jail at Parapapna Agrahara along with his councilor son Katta Jagadish Naidu as under trail prisoners for involvement in a land scam, while Yeddyurappa is facing a slew of graft cases and his arrest has not been ruled out.
The former CM, who had been admitted to Sagar Hospital on Bannerghatta Road on Saturday, has extended his stay. According to the doctors, Yeddyurappa's health is fine and sources close to him said he could
be discharged sometime today.
Migrating pain?
Subramanya Naidu's case on the other hand was a bit dramatic. He first complained of chest pains before dawn yesterday and insisted on being taken to Jayadeva, a government hospital specialised in cardiology, saying he was suffering from a suspected heart ailment.
Following a check up, the doctors ruled out any heart problem and refused to admit him. He then began complaining of stomach pains and was taken to Victoria Hospital, where he was admitted after a preliminary check up. However, instead of being housed in a jail ward as per the rules, he is in a special ward with all the facilities, including a separate kitchen space.
"We know he is an under trial prisoner and should be kept in the jail ward. However, due to some administrative issues we had to keep him in the special wad," said Dr Balagangadhara Tilak, medical superintendent of Victoria Hospital. While declining to elaborate on the issues, Tilak said that Subramanya Naidu's health was normal excepting for a minor cervical issue.
The High Court posted hearing of Yeddyurappa's anticipatory bail petition to August 25 in a case related to irregularities in awarding civil contract in an irrigation project. He is to appear before the Lokayukta Special Court in one of the cases relating to a land scam on August 27, while the other cases are pending.
A source close to the former CM said, "While he is facing these many cases, Yeddyurappa is exploring the possibility of extending his hospital stay as much as he can. He is likely to move to Victoria Hospital because
a government hospital is preferred in a situation like this."
No limelight?
B S Yeddyurappa may have been planning to tour the state, meet people and attend public gatherings to consolidate his support base. That plan allegedly came to a grinding halt as the BJP party top brass has restricted him from public appearances until he comes clean on the graft charges. However, others say that there were no such restrictions. "The party high command expressed concerns over Yeddyurappa's health, but it is not true that they have restricted him from addressing public rallies. We have not planned such rallies," said B J Puttaswamy, political advisor to Yeddyurappa.
