Varavara Rao Files Plea In Bombay HC To Shift To Hyderabad

Mumbai: Poet and activist P Varavara Rao, who is over 80 now, moved the Bombay High Court seeking permission to relocate permanently from Mumbai to Hyderabad, citing financial hardships and health concerns.

Rao, who was arrested in 2018 in the Bhima Koregaon case, was in jail till he was granted bail in 2021 on medical grounds. The Supreme Court later extended his bail but barred him from leaving Mumbai without court permission. The Bhima Koregaon case pertains to alleged Maoist links and violence near Pune on January 1, 2018. Sixteen people were arrested, including Father Stan Swamy, who died in custody in 2021. All accused are now out on bail

In his plea, Rao explained that living in Mumbai costs him around Rs 77,000 a month, while his pension is only about Rs 50,000. He also said that he wanted to be with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, who were in Hyderabad, and the doctors who could take care of him were there.

A special NIA court had rejected his relocation request on March 16, 2026, holding that the Supreme Court allowed only temporary visits to Hyderabad, not permanent settlement. Varavara Rao challenged the order in the High Court, arguing the restriction was never meant to prevent relocation given his age, illness, and financial strain.

A Division Bench of Justices AS Gadkari and Kamal Khata has sought the National Investigation Agency’s response to Rao’s plea and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

The octogenarian poet is said to be suffering from multiple health issues, including suspected early-stage Parkinson's disease and neurological symptoms. He is currently staying in a rented accommodation with his wife P. Hemalathain, in suburban Goregaon, as per the HC orders that he stay in Mumbai.

This article is written by Yashwanth Rodda, a student of IIT Hyderabad, interning with Deccan Chronicle.