Mumbai, Nov. 27 -- A special court under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act on Thursday rejected an application of 83-year-old tribal rights activist and Jesuit priest Stan Swamy seeking a straw and sipper in prison. The jailed activist requested the NIA to return the straw and sipper they had reportedly seized during his arrest.

Stan Swamy submitted an application 20 days ago, citing the hand tremors caused by Parkinson's disease. The court had directed the NIA to respond to the plea after 20 days. On Thursday, the NIA informed the special court that at the time of his arrest, the sipper and straw were not part of the seized items and referred to the panchnama. NIA judge DE Kothalikar rejected Stan Swamy's plea.

Sharif Shaikh,...