MUMBAI: A special NIA court this week rejected the plea of 85-year-old poet and activist P Varavara Rao to permanently relocate to his hometown of Hyderabad on medical and financial grounds. Rao sought the relief on the ground that living in Mumbai has become a financial burden, noting that while his monthly pension is approximately Rs 50,000 rupees, while his living expenses in the city exceed Rs 77,000. The activist stated that relying on his children to bridge this financial gap was “affecting his dignity and self independence.” The activist, who is an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, is out on bail but is restricted by conditions imposed by the Supreme Court that require him to remain within the jurisdiction of Greater Mumbai. The judge noted that the SC had granted liberty to the activist with specific restrictions and that the trial court did not have the authority to override those mandates.
