Dr. Kafeel Khan, a doctor at BRD Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, India, became a hero after arranging oxygen cylinders to save the lives of critically ill children in 2017. However, he was soon targeted by the government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who allegedly blamed him for leaking the news to the media. Dr. Khan was removed from his position, arrested, and charged with various offenses, including private practice and fraud. Despite being granted bail multiple times, he was repeatedly arrested and detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for his speeches against the Citizenship Amendment Act. His detention was extended, and he was not released even during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite his request to help with the crisis. The case highlights the extent to which the system can suppress a common man who does his duty and speaks out against injustice.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Dr. Kafeel Khan was a doctor working at BRD Medical College in Uttar Pradesh, India.
2. On August 10, 2017, an oxygen shortage occurred in the hospital, and Dr. Khan arranged for oxygen cylinders to save the lives of critically ill children.
3. Despite his efforts, 23 children died due to the oxygen shortage that night.
4. Dr. Khan was praised by the media and the public for his heroism, but the government was irate with him.
5. On August 13, 2017, Dr. Khan was removed from his position on charges of "carrying out private practice."
6. A propaganda campaign was launched against Dr. Khan on social media, and he was branded as a traitor.
7. On August 14, 2017, RTI activist Sanjay Sharma filed an RTI seeking answers from the government regarding the incident.
8. On August 15, 2017, doctors from AIIMS stood in support of Dr. Khan, alleging that he had been made a scapegoat.
9. On August 23, 2017, an FIR was filed against Dr. Khan.
10. On September 2, 2017, Dr. Khan was arrested on a non-bailable warrant.
11. In November 2017, the police filed a chargesheet against Dr. Khan.
12. On April 10, 2018, the Indian Medical Association stood in support of Dr. Khan and expressed solidarity.
13. On April 18, 2018, Dr. Khan wrote a 10-page letter from jail, explaining what happened on the night of the oxygen shortage and how he was being made a scapegoat.
14. On April 25, 2018, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Dr. Khan.
15. On June 11, 2018, Dr. Khan's brother was attacked by unidentified men on a bike.
16. In July 2018, Dr. Khan said he was going bankrupt and did not have enough money to run his family.
17. In August 2018, the reply to the RTI filed by Sanjay Sharma stated that there was an oxygen shortage that night, and Dr. Khan had arranged for four oxygen cylinders on his own to save the lives of the children.
18. On September 22, 2018, Dr. Khan was arrested again by the Gorakhpur police on charges of fraud.
19. On March 2019, the Allahabad High Court gave a period of three months to the Yogi Adityanath government to wrap up the ongoing inquiry against Dr. Khan.
20. On September 27, 2019, it was reported that all charges against Dr. Khan had been absolved by an inquiry, and he was given a clean chit.
21. However, the Uttar Pradesh government later said it would be wrong to presume that Dr. Khan had been given a clean chit.
22. On October 4, 2019, the Uttar Pradesh government launched a new departmental investigation against Dr. Khan.
23. On December 13, 2019, Dr. Khan gave a speech at AMU University on the Citizenship Amendment Act.
24. An FIR was lodged against Dr. Khan for making attempts to disturb communal harmony and promoting enmity between Hindus and Muslims.
25. On January 30, 2020, Dr. Khan was arrested again by the police for his speech.
26. On February 10, 2020, Dr. Khan was granted bail by Aligarh Chief Judicial Magistrate, but he was not released from jail for the next three days.
27. On February 13, 2020, Dr. Khan was charged under the National Security Act (NSA) and was kept in jail.
28. On March 19, 2020, Dr. Khan wrote a letter from jail to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting to be released so he could help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
29. On May 13, 2020, the three-month limit under NSA was extended by another three months by the UP government.
30. On July 6, 2020, Dr. Khan wrote another letter from jail, describing the poor conditions of the jail.
31. On July 27, 2020, the Allahabad High Court deferred the date of his hearing to August 5, 2020.