The Jharkhand High Court (HC) has issued a direction to the state government to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken for the treatment of Dinesh Gope, the chief of Naxalite outfit People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The development comes after concerns were raised over the adequacy of medical care provided to Gope, who is currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar.

Gope is a prominent figure who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi in May 2023 after nearly two decades of evasion. He has been a prime target due to his involvement in over 100 criminal cases in Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha. These cases mainly involve serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, extortion and financing terrorist activities.

After undergoing surgery for a hand injury, Gope suffered complications, leading the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) medical board to recommend that he be shifted to AIIMS for better medical care. Despite this recommendation, the state’s response has been lacklustre, leading Gope to seek judicial intervention.

The court’s demand for the affidavit is part of an inquiry into the state’s commitment to ensuring the health and legal rights of detainees, particularly those with serious charges and extensive criminal backgrounds. The situation highlights on-going challenges within the correctional system in addressing the health concerns of high-profile inmates.