MUMBAI: Stanislaus Lourduswamy popularly known as Stan Swamy, an 84 years old Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit order and tribal right activist, accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case died in Mumbai's Holy Family Hospital, ahead of his bail hearing in Bombay High Court.

Dr Ian D'souza, director of the hospital announced his death. Dr D'souza said, "Fr Swamy suffered a cardiac arrest at 4.30 am on Saturday and he was put on a ventilator. Subsequent to this, he did not regain consciousness and he was declared dead at 1.30 pm today. Cause of death is definitely pulmonary infection and Parkinson's disease among others."

The octogenarian priest who was the oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India suffered from hearing loss, Parkinson’s disease, lumbar spondylosis, had also tested positive for COVID-19 in May and since then, his condition had deteriorated. 

During the day Fr Swamy's lawyer Mihir Desai subsequently informed a bench of Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar, which expressed shock over the news and said it was at a loss of words.

Desai also petitioned the court that since Fr Swamy does not have close family members, his final rites would be conducted by his friend Fr Frazer Mascarenhas, former principal of St Xavier’s College in Mumbai and currently the Parish Priest of St Peter’s Church in Bandra. The court allowed the request.

The Jesuit Provincial of India later released a statement expressing grief over Swamy's death and said, Fr Stan had worked for the Adivasis, Dalits, and marginalised communities all his life.

Fr Swamy was arrested and chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 8 October 2020, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence and links to the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and has been incarcerated in Taloja jail.

The NIA had alleged that the Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC) co-convened by Fr Swamy and another accused in the case activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj was a front for Maoists.

Several social activists and political leaders across parties took to social media to pay tributes to F Swamy and some even expressed anger at the way he was jailed despite being tested positive for COVID-19 and repeatedly denied bail.

Among the first to tweet was chief minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, "Shocked to learn about the demise of Father Stan Swamy. He dedicated his life working for tribal rights. I had strongly opposed his arrest & incarceration. The Union Govt should be answerable for absolute apathy & non provision of timely medical services, leading to his death."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Father Stan Swamy. He deserved justice and humaneness."

The former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, "Deeply disturbed by the passing away of 84-year-old tribal activist Stan Swamy. A ruthless & callous government that deprived him of dignity even while he was alive has blood on its hands. Absolutely shocked & appalled. May his soul rest in peace."