Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010953040600.htm

Karnataka

B.V. Seetaram shifted to Mangalore jail

Staff Correspondent

Police official cites lack of space in Udupi Sub Jail

Seetaram: plea for extension of 2 days in hospital denied
Surgeon: Seetaram was discharged as he was medically fit

Udupi: The Director and Chairman of Chitra Publications Pvt. Ltd., B.V. Seetaram, was discharged from the District Government Hospital here on Thursday and taken to Mangalore.

A police team entered the hospital at around 5 p.m. and brought out Mr. Seetaram in a wheelchair at 5.15 p.m. He was then taken to the Taluk Office premises here, where the Udupi Sub Jail is located. The police then went to the Deputy Tahsildar’s office to fulfil certain formalities. Mr. Seetaram answered a few queries posed by presspersons in a low tone. Mr. Seetaram said that he had been forcibly brought out of the Udupi District Government Hospital. “I am not able to stand. My legs are paining. My head is reeling. The police are forcibly taking me to Mangalore,” he said

Mr. Seetaram said that he had requested the District Surgeon to give him an extension of two days in the hospital. “Though the District Surgeon agreed to give a week’s extension just yesterday, he later changed his mind due to pressure from the Home Minister V.S. Acharya,” he alleged.

He added: “I am weak. I fear for my life.”

‘No pressure’

Speaking to The Hindu, the in-charge District Surgeon, Chandrashekhar Adiga, said: “We discharged him because he was medically fit.”

“There was no pressure from any quarter,” he added.

According to Jail Superintendent of Udupi Sub Jail, Venkataraj Ballal, Mr. Seetaram was shifted to Mangalore jail because there was lack of space in Udupi Sub Jail.