Rohatgi resumes his submissions.
Rohatgi reads out the FIR which states that Raju has created hatred between two communities.
Rohatgi: This can never be sedition. This only shows that he is outspoken in his criticism against the leadership. This is elementary.
Rohatgi is disconnected due to technical errors.
Dave: Mr. Rohatgi said yesterday that he was in Himalayas. So, connectivity might be an issue there.
Bench: He’s a lucky man. In winters he’s in Goa, and summers he’s in the mountains. You will not go ?
Dave: It’s too dangerous to go anywhere. My wife and I are here.
Rohatgi is connected again.
Bench: Where are you in Himalayas ?
Rohatgi: I am near Nainital.
Bench: That’s why there’s a problem.
Rohatgi: I have been here for two months. It’s only today that there is a problem.
Rohatgi: There is also the most important thing - the fracture. It would be absurd to argue that someone within one evening will do all of this to himself.
Rohatgi: The HC also said that such matters can’t be heard during vacation. The HC did not grant me the bail, I had to come to the SC and you were kind enough to grant the medical examination. Now see the report.
Rohatgi: The medical report records that he has the following history - an open heart surgery in December. Kindly turn to page 3. Right and left lower limb - edema which is a swelling.
Rohatgi: There is also clotting of blood which can happen if you involuntary hit against a hard object or get a beating. In Hindi we call it “Neel padh gaya”.
Rohatgi: We went to the HC for bail. They said two things - 1. We should come by the route of the lower court. This ruling is illegal as we have the right to the HC. The offence of sedition against a person who is a beneficiary of democracy itself.
Rohatgi: Last year in DELHI HC, I was granted Y level security of Central Force. Therafter, the matters went to the HC.
Bench: Be precise.
Rohatgi: Only five more minutes.
Rohatgi: The medical examination shows that contrary to what the Magistrate saw as a layman that everything was fine. The head was a gynaecologist whose husband is a part of the ruling party.
Bench: You were produced within 24 years ?
Rohatgi: Yes.
Bench: And then sent to remand ?
Rohatgi: Yes. And conducted medical examination.
Rohatgi: The Magistrate records that he saw there were marks on my feet. He also says that there should be a medical board. I had threat to my life in 2020 from some elements of the party and otherwise.
Rohatgi: Under this background, I was picked up on my birthday. I was taken by car to Guntur and lodged in CID office and I was tortured and produced before Magistrate.