HC orders Vizag doctor Sudhakar's release from hospital

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court, on 5 June, ordered the release of anesthesiologist Dr. Kolaventi Sudhakar Rao from the Government Hospital for Mental Care (GHMC).

After hearing a petition filed by the doctor's mother, Kolaventi Kaveri Lakshmi Bai, the court said that since Dr. Sudhakar was neither in police nor judicial custody he could be released after getting permission from the superintendent of the GHMC.

Dr. Sudhakar’s mother, in her petition, also said that her son was being illegally confined based on a false report that said he was suffering from mental illness. She said that he was given the wrong medication and he had already developed side effects due to the wrong treatment.

Justices Seshai Sai and Lalitha Kumari delivered the orders and said Dr. Sudhakar should cooperate with the CBI during the investigation.

The Andhra Pradesh government had suspended Dr. Sudhakar in April for accusing the government of not providing N-95 masks and PPE kits to doctors on COVID-19 duty. On 16 May, the Vizag city police had thrashed the doctor, tied his hands, and dragged him around for allegedly creating nuisance on the streets and abusing the state government. The High Court, in its order on 22 May, had handed the doctor's case to the CBI.

After his arrest, Dr. Sudhakar was admitted to the King George Hospital and later shifted to the GHMC. The police had claimed that he was suffering from mental illness.