Convicted for murder, BJP MLA in hospital

Amrutiya had challenged his conviction in the Gujarat High Court. His application for bail — on health grounds — was rejected by the court.

Following a report published in a local daily, the Gujarat High Court on Monday, suo motu, ordered the DCP (Zone IV) to seize Amrutiya’s medical reports from the date of his hospitilisation and has asked a team of doctors to examine Amrutiya, stating that if he’s free from any ailment, he ‘‘should be sent back to jail.’’

The court observed: ‘‘It appears the convict is trying to circumvent the rejection of his bail order by the Gujarat High Court at an earlier date.’’

On conviction, Amrutiya was sent to Sabarmati Central Jail but was hospitalised after he complained of chest and abdominal pain.

He was initially kept in the general ward at Civil Hospital, but was later shifted to a special room for VVIPs, where he had access to an AC, TV, refrigerator and outside food. He reportedly was well enough to go about his work from his bedside and also to meet the numerous visitors who queued up outside his hospital room to wish him on Diwali.

Taking a serious note of the lapses, the division bench of Justices K.R. Vyas and A.K. Mehta also directed that Amruitya be examined by a team of cardiologists to determine his illness and that a report be given to the court by December 2.

The court also expressed surprise over the matter, saying: ‘‘If he (Amrutiya) has a heart ailment, why does he have so many visitors and how come is he doing his routine work from the hospital?’’ The court has further directed that ‘‘If doctors feel he is free from any ailment, he should be sent back immediately to jail.’’