SC issues notice to Chhattisgarh Govt. on detention of rights activist

Raipur, May. 4 (ANI): The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Chhattisgarh Government questioning the detention of civil rights activist Binayak Sen.

Sen has been languishing in jail for the last 22 months on charges of aiding and abetting naxalite activities in the state.

Acting on the bail petition filed by the civil right activist, a Bench headed by Justice D K Jain also asked the state government to provide medical aid to Sen, who has been suffering from heart ailments.

The state government has alleged that Sen, who is the vice-president of the People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), was acting as a courier for a suspected naxalite.

Sen, who was detained on May 14, 2007, has argued that there was no evidence against him to be booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Also a doctor by profession, Sen has sought bail on medical ground, claiming that he had been suffering from a heart ailment and needs treatment at Christian Medical College, Vellore in Tamil Nadu.

He contended that the chargesheet against him has already been filed and he has remained in jail during the investigation of the case registered against him, so, he should be granted a bail. (ANI)