Madras HC allows plea to shift Saravana Bhavan founder to private hospital for treatment

The Madras High Court today allowed a plea moved to shift P Rajagopal, founder of the restaurant chain Saravana Bhavan, to a private hospital in view of his deteriorating health condition..The Bench of Justices MM Sundaresh and B Nirmal Kumar allowed the prayer sought in a plea moved by the restaurant moghul’s son, P Saravanan. The Court has permitted Rajagopal to be shifted to Vijaya Hospital in Chennai..As per the affidavit filed by his son before the Madras High Court, Rajagopal’s health condition has worsened following his surrender to the life imprisonment sentence imposed on him for the murder of a member of his staff..It was submitted that the prison authorities had shifted Rajagopal to Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Chennai on the day of his surrender. However, since this hospital was not equipped to take care of the Saravana Bhavan founder in tune with his health regimen thus far, his condition had deteriorated substantially. As stated in the plea,.“In view of the sudden change in the nature of drugs and a change in the treatment, his condition started deteriorating and during the midnight on 13.7.2019, he has suffered a cardiac arrest and he was able to recover only on 14.7.2019 morning. The doctors have also advised ABG blood test and even the said facilities are not available in Stanley Medical College and test had been sent to Hi-Tech lab.”.It was stated that Rajagopal suffers from chronic diabetes, a kidney condition, heart problems, difficulty in walking owing to various conditions, and acute gastroenteritis, apart from multiple systemic diseases. The plea moved by Saravanan stated,.“… my father requires intense medical care with specialised equipment for his survival. He also requires the assistance of at least two persons to do his day to day basic activities.“.A representation made to the concerned authorities to shift Rajagopal to a better equipped private hospital yielded no response. Hence, the Madras High Court was approached with a prayer to facilitate the same. It was submitted,.“… if he [Rajagopal] is given proper medical care and attention, his condition may improve. However, since he is kept in Stanley Medical College, Kilpauk where no such facilities are available, his condition is deteriorating. We undertake to abide by any conditions imposed by this Hon’ble Court and pray that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to grant directions to the Respondents to shift my father P Rajagopal.. to any other private hospital private medical hospital preferably Vijaya Primary Health Centre or SRM Instt. of Medical Sciences where all medical facilities are available. Otherwise his condition would deteriorate every minute and his health condition would become worsen.”.In March this year, the Supreme Court upheld Rajagopal’s conviction for the murder of an employee working at the Saravana Bhavan establishment. Following his conviction, he had been expected to surrender before the Court or the local police on July 7 to commence his sentence of life imprisonment. However, he failed to do so..An urgent plea was subsequently moved before the Supreme Court seeking extension of time to surrender, in view of Rajagopal’s poor health condition. On July 9, the Supreme Court rejected the plea on the ground that the medical condition of the accused should have been brought on record during the proceedings in the case. The same day, Rajagopal was brought to the the IVth Additional Sessions Court at Chennai in an ambulance to surrender.