Tripura: Former Minister Badal Choudhury Admitted to ICU

Agartala, October 22, 2019:

Former Minister of Tripura and CPI (M) veteran leader Badal Choudhury, accused in a Rs 600 Cr PWD scam, was formally arrested by the police last night. However, due to his failing health, he was admitted to the ICU in Tripura's ILS hospital.

ILS hospital authorities informed that CT-Scan, X-Ray, and other medical tests have been performed. The former Minister

According to reports, Badal Chowdhury could not speak to his wife or to any other senior leader, including Manik Sarkar. Badal Choudhury is a heart patient and has undergone heart surgery twice.

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He had been absconding for almost a week, and police could not trace him despite dozens of raids and search operations.

Last night arround 9.10PM his wife brought him at ILS hospital through a auto rickshaw.

While last night around 9.30 pm he admitted at ILS hospital the police got the information of Badal Choudhury and a large number of police force and several police officers rushed to the hospital.

Crime Branch SP Kuldeep Singh told the media that Badal Choudhury has been arrested by police at ILS hospital while he was being treated. SP told they will decide whether to arrest him after consulting with the doctors and government lawyers.

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A group of lawyers also went to the hospital on behalf of Choudhury, but police did not allow them to meet Badal Choudhury.

Manik Sarkar, CPI-M State Secretary Gautam Das also reached the hospital last night soon after he admitted to hospital. Manik Sarkar informed the reporters that Badal Choudhury's condition is serious. An FIR was lodged against Badal Choudhury on October 13.

Police started hunt for him across the state, but on October 14, Choudhury received interim bail. However, on October 16, Badal Choudhury’s bail plea was rejected in the District Court. But police, in the last 6 days, were deployed on day-night duties in search of Badal Choudhury. 9 Govt officials including top-level police officers were suspended owing to failure to arrest Choudhury.

A bail petition of Badal Choudhury was heard by Tripura high Court single bench on Monday but the verdict has been kept by the Justice Arindam Loadh.

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