'Atiq Complained of Heaviness in Chest': UAPA Accused's Worried Kin Tell Media

"I spoke to him yesterday and he complained of vomiting, heaviness in his chest, loose motions," his wife said.

In an attempt to get media attention to UAPA accused Atiq-ur Rehman's deteriorating health, his family has come to Delhi to hold a press conference on Friday, 27 August.

"I am very worried for him," his wife, 27-year-old Sanjeeda Rehman, told us ahead of the press conference to be held at the Press Club.

She continued, "I spoke to him yesterday (26 August) and he complained of vomiting, heaviness in his chest, loose motions. This has continued for three to four days now. What are they waiting for? We are in Delhi because we want him to be moved to AIIMS for his surgery."

"My husband is not well. Through you I hope there is pressure that he be allowed to be taken to AIIMS. If surgery doesn't happen then something horrible can happen."

Sanjeeda Rehman

Rehman suffers from a heart condition called Aortic Regurgitation, which occurs when your heart's aortic valve doesn't close tightly. The most serious complication that could arise from this condition is heart failure, his family says.

The UP Police's Special Task Force booked Rehman and seven others, including journalist Siddique Kappan, under various stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) like sedition and promoting enmity between groups. They have also been booked under the anti-terror law called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which makes bail nearly impossible for the accused.

Rehman has been accused of a 'conspiracy to create a law and order problem' after a Dalit girl died after being raped in west UP's Hathras in September 2020.

Further, appealing for his plea for medical attention to be heard soon, Sanjeeda said: "I also appeal to the court that all the accused, who are innocent get bail soon."

What is Rehman's Lawyer Saying?

Addressing the press conference, Advocate Madhuvan Dutt, who is representing the family, pointed out: "Right to life and liberty is a pious provision in our constitution."

"With reference to this case, I'd to say there are various threats to this right," he added.

Dubbing sedition allegations against Rehman and co-accused as "problematic", Advocate Dutt argued that from 6 October to 19 October, the SDM kept the accused without jurisdiction in jail.

He, thereby, went on to say:

• "Atiq Ur Rehman's Habeas Corpus plea was filed on 5 November, with the Allahabad High Court. This was continues to be pending in court. Today the Habeas Corpus is listed again in front of the Honorable HC."

• "The charge sheet was filed on 3 April. While filing this, under Section 45 of the UAPA Act. The police never took the requisite permission and still filed the charge sheet. The accused are hence in illegal custody."

• "This order was passed on 12 August where the court said that there are 13 petitions, including this one (Section 45 case), and has been clubbed that it be taken together. Therefore it has been pending in the Allahabad HC."

• "At different stages, we have raised his health issues three times. He falls sick, taken to district hospital. 2-3 times he was also taken to SM Medical College. He has been hospitalized now in the jail hospital. He told me he isn't well."

"If he is guilty or not, we will wait for the trial to end. But it is a settled principle that the innocence of the accused is assumed. Their right to life cannot be taken away."

Advocate Madhuvan Dutt

The Advocate further urged the press to show concern for Rehman's life.

More Details

Concerned for his health, his family confirmed that he has been kept in the hospital inside the Mathura jail when he needs to be brought to a more specialised hospital for proper care. The jail superintendent has said he has a viral fever.

Earlier in August, The Quint had reported on his family's continued concerns about his health in the jail. His brother Mateen had told us, "You are the first journalist to have called me to ask about my brother. He needs surgery, or we are afraid he will die."

The family said that a month before his arrest, he was told to get a Bentall procedure to replace the aortic valve from the doctor in AIIMS. "Which is why we moved a plea to get him interim bail for 60 days, so he could get surgery in AIIMS," Mateen had added. However the plea was rejected by Mathura court in June earlier this year.

The court order from June 2021 states, "The police have said that the accused has been taken to Agra and is being treated in the district hospital. Presently his health is satisfactory. In the facts and circumstances of the said case, the accused is not granted interim bail. This application has been disposed of."

The family has come to Delhi to hold a press conference with the hope that their applications filed in the Allahabad HC, against the lower court's order, will be heard soon. "We had filed an application in July earlier this month, which is yet to be listed," Advocate Madhuvan Dutt said. The writ petition was moved under Article 226 on 23 July.

Other than Sanjeeda, Atiq-ur-Rehman's uncle Shawakat Ali, his advocate Madhuvan Dutt, brother Mateen Rehman, and National General Secretary of the Campus Front of India Ashwan Sadiq are present at the conference.