Ahmedabad: Man on bail to protect kin returns Covid-19 positive

AHMEDABAD: A prisoner, who was granted bail to protect his family members during the Covid-19 pandemic, returned to jail as a Covid patient. Now, he has got bail again to recover from the viral infection.
Umesh Patel, accused of attempted murder in an armed robbery in Odhav in January, had, like many other prisoners, requested for bail after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Gujarat.
He had cited that his wife and two children needed his support to survive the lockdown and adverse situation prevailing due to the pandemic. On April 21, Patel got bail for a week.
When he returned to the Sabarmati central jail to surrender, he tested positive. Upon the HC directions, all prisoners returning from temporary bail or parole are tested for Covid infection. Patel was treated in hospital and upon testing negative; he was taken to the prison earlier this month.
The prisoner did not find the jail conditions proper for recovery. He once again moved the HC and requested for bail.
He submitted before the court that he had apprehension about his health and he would like to take some precautions. He added that he would also like to take care of his family members.
Upon hearing Patel’s bail plea, Justice Sangeeta Vishen on Tuesday granted him bail for two weeks upon furnishing Rs 5,000 bond.
Meanwhile, Patel had twice approached the high court for regular bail since his arrest, but the court was not inclined to release him on regular bail. Each time, Patel had withdrawn his plea for regular bail.
The high court has issued express directions for all prisoners out on temporary bail related to Covid-19, that they need not surrender to jail for next 45 days. The high-power committee and the IG prisons had last week decided to extend their bail terms by 30 days.