Ahmedabad: The special POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) court today (Feb 4, 2004) rejected the temporary bail application of Maulvi Hussain Umarji, allegedly the mastermind of the Godhra train carnage, seeking private treatment for his various health problems.

Umarji had filed an application in January seeking temporary bail for two month for "private treatment" of various illnesses, including high blood pressure and arthritis and had complained that the "medical treatment and facilities inside the Sabarmati Central Jail was not adequate and could deteriorate his health".

POTA judge Sonia Gokani however, rejected the application and observed that the "medical facilities and treatment inside the jail was adequate to take care of the applicant and he cannot be granted bail for private treatment".

Umarji had in his application and also via video conferencing told the court that his condition was worsening due to poor medical aid inside the jail.

He had also cited examples of two other POTA accused persons - Fakruddin Siklighar and Siraj Jamsa - who were also seriously ill while in the jail and the former had died during treatment at the civil hospital while the latter who was granted bail for treatment in Godhra died a few days later.