Uncertainty surrounds a case in which a prisoner is refusing to return to prison because officials will not allow him to bring a vital respiratory therapy device.
According to the authorities, a part of the machine resembles a mobile phone—an item strictly banned inside jail premises—creating a deadlock over his surrender.
The inmate, 36-year-old Sandip Pandya, claims his health is at serious risk without access to his CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device. Pandya suffers from sleep apnea, a condition marked by repeated stoppages in breathing during sleep, making the machine essential for his survival.
Hailing from Visnagar in Mehsana district, Pandya is implicated in two separate cybercrime matters. He had been released on bail and was required to present himself back in custody once the bail period ended.
After prison authorities declined his request to carry the therapeutic equipment with him, Pandya approached the high court seeking directions to compel Sabarmati Central Jail to allow him to use the CPAP machine during incarceration.
“We informed the court that the petitioner’s oxygen saturation drops to nearly 50% while he sleeps,” argued his lawyer, Nadeem Mansuri. “Normally, oxygen levels should remain between 95% and 100%.”
Mansuri added, “If he is sent back to jail without the CPAP device, he is at risk of dying. The objection stems from a monitoring attachment on the machine that resembles a phone.” During the hearing, the bench questioned why Pandya had not raised his concerns earlier with the jail authorities. The lawyer responded that Pandya was unable to do so because he is currently absconding. Following this exchange, the petition was withdrawn. The court recorded that the petitioner intended to first approach the prison administration with a proper representation.
Pandya faces charges filed in Vadodara and Changodar in 2023. He was initially granted temporary bail to undergo treatment for sleep apnea soon after his arrest. While he later received regular bail in the Vadodara case, the Changodar case resulted in another round of temporary bail in March. Although the court extended his bail once before, it has now declined to prolong it any further.
Also Read: Gujarat Education Department: Don’t Discriminate Prisoners’ Children With Prejudice https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-education-department-dont-discriminate-prisoners-children-with-prejudice/
