‘Cannot rule out deadly black fungus possibility’ claims Hany Babu’s lawyer in court, Bombay HC orders to shift Hany Babu to private hospital

Bombay High Court vocation bench comprising Justice S J Kathawalla and Justice S P Tavade, ordered to shift Hany Babu, a 54 year old Professor of English Literature and Linguists at Delhi University and an under trial prisoner in the Bhima Koregaon case, to Breach Candy Pvt Hospital Mumbai tomorrow for the better treatment in his plea that sought bail on medical ground. In the plea family prayed to shift Hany Babu immediately to a multi-specialty hospital with a specialist ophthalmology as well as an E.N.T and neurosurgery departments. It also prayed to release Babu on bail.

Court added that expanses at the Breach Candy Hospital, including consultation, medicines will be borne by the family of the patient.

Opposing the demand of Hany Babu’s family to shift to a private hospital, ASG Anil Singh appeared for NIA said that he should be treated at JJ or Nair government hospitals, lest this becomes a precedent.

To this court replied : “There is no harm in this becoming a precedent in these times. We are not asking the state to bear the expenses”.

“The family deserves the satisfaction of the patient being treated in their choice of hospital.” Bench observes rejecting NIA’s opposition to shifting him to a hospital other than government. Court also ordered that family members can communicate with Hany Babu and his doctors.

Court heard the doctors at the GT Hospital where Hany Babu is currently being treated for COVID-19 as he had tested positive and Hany Babu himself in a virtual hearing. Dean of the GT Hospital clarified the court that they don’t have the facility to conduct a diagnostic test to detect Mucormycosis, also known as “black fungus”, as he had developed the eye infection.

Family of Hany Babu has moved the Bombay High Court with the plea seeking better treatment for his eye infection as they fear it a possible black fungus which is a rare but serious infection, found in several COVID-19 patients, since he has tested for noval coronavirus.

“Hany Babu has not been given proper treatment or even conducted mandated diagnostic test to detect the deadliest disease since he had developed eye infection on May 03 and later tested positive for COVID-19 on May 14. ICMR issued standard operating protocol on mucormycosis has also been blatantly ignored. Time is of the essence and even a single day’s further delay in diagnosis and treatment may cost Dr.Babu’s eyesight and even his life” Advocate Yug Choudary and Advocate Payushi Roy apprised the court.

“We cannot rule out the possibility of the deadliest black fungus symptom of COVID-19 until a proper test is done”-Jenny Rowena, Hany Babu’s wife who teaches in Miranda College Delhi University, had earlier told the Maktoob.

Hany Babu was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in July 2020 in the Elgar Parishad case pertaining to alleged inflammatory speeches made at a conference held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in the district.