After spending 22 months in prison, human rights activist Dr Binayak Sen was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Monday.

Two years ago the award-winning doctor was arrested for alleged links with Maoists by the Chhatisgarh police under the dreaded Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005.

Despite a heart ailment, the state had denied him a specialist, and Dr Sen  -- who spent his life tending to tribals -- remained in detention.

Twenty-two Nobel Laureates, ex-Chief Justice of India V R Krishna Iyer, Philosopher Noam Chomsky, hundreds of intellectuals and ordinary people have appealed for Dr Sen's release.

His wife Ilina Sen and daughter Pranhita have written a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [reproduced alongside], urging him to free Dr Sen.

'No crime has been proved against him. Surely a doctor who chose to stay and work among the underprivileged in India does not deserve this. Please let Dr Sen be free and let this ordeal end,' they write in their letter [  Ilina's appeal to the prime minister].

As Dr Sen languished in prison, Ilina and her two daughters fought a battle outside, trying to do everything in their might to get him a heart specialist and to secure his release.

Today, as Dr Sen was granted bail, their crusade has borne fruit. Sen, who had been in custody since May 14, 2007, contended that there was no evidence against him to be booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Prasanna D Zore and Uttam Ghosh met Ilina and Pranhita on May 19, a few hours before they were to leave for Morocco to address a human rights conference. The duo spoke about the family's trial over the past two years. 

How serious is Dr Binayak Sen's heart condition?

Ilina: We will only know after a thorough check-up. It's impossible to know, to assess otherwise. The ECG has shown that there is an arterial block but we don't know as yet how serious is this blockage.