Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee is in the state of coma and his health condition remains critical as he has been battling for life since he has tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Pranab Mukherjee, who is the immediate predecessor for sitting President Ram Nath Kovind, has been getting treated at the Army Research and Referral (R&R) Hospital in Delhi since Monday. On Thursday, the hospital issued a statement concerning the development of his health condition. 

In the latest statement, the hospital said, "The condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged this morning. He is deeply comatose with stable vital parameters and continues to be on ventilatory support". The development has come when the former president's son Abhijit Mukherjee took to Twitter and said that his father is alive and hemodynamically stable. 

The condition of former President Pranab Mukherjee remains unchanged this morning. He is deeply comatose with stable vital parameters and continues to be on ventilatory support: Army Research & Referral (R&R) Hospital, Delhi https://t.co/JPhaOOoEvL

— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2020

On Monday afternoon, Pranab Mukherjee said that he has tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection and admitted to the R&R Hospital and he had undergone emergency life-saving brain surgery after a clot was discovered. Though the surgery was successful, the hospital said that he has been on the ventilator support and he has been monitored by the team of doctors. 

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited the hospital on Monday and enquired about the health condition of the former president. On Tuesday evening, the hospital released the statement and said the former president hasn't shown any improvement and his health status has worsened. He remains on ventilator support and his health is critical.

While he continues to battle, rumors had surfaced around his health condition with some claiming that the former president has passed away. His son Abhijit took to Twitter on Thursday and reprimanded the circulation of fake news. He said, "My Father Shri Pranab Mukherjee is still alive & haemodynamically stable! Speculations & fake news being circulated by reputed Journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of Fake News".

My Father Shri Pranab Mukherjee is still alive & haemodynamically stable !
Speculations & fake news being circulated by reputed Journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of Fake News .

— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 13, 2020

Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee also denied the rumors and said, "Rumours about my father is false. Request, esp’ly to media, NOT to call me as I need to keep my phone free for any updates from the hospital". Since the former Commander-in-Chief has been hospitalized, national leaders across the nation have been wishing him a speedy recovery. President Ram Nath Kovind had spoken with the daughter of his predecessor and enquired about his health condition. 

Rumours about my father is false. Request, esp’ly to media, NOT to call me as I need to keep my phone free for any updates from the hospital🙏

— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) August 13, 2020

Last year 8August was 1 of d happiest day 4 me as my dad received Bharat Ratna.Exactly a year later on 10Aug he fell critically ill. May God do whatever is best 4 him & give me strength 2 accept both joys & sorrows of life with equanimity. I sincerely thank all 4 their concerns🙏

— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) August 12, 2020

Pranab Mukherjee was the 13 President of India and served the nation's highest office from 2012 to 2017 and during his decades' long political career, he has been conferred with various awards and recognitions including the nation's highest civilian honor - the Bharat Ratna in 2019 and he was bestowed with the Best Parliamentarian Award in 1997 and the Best Administrator in India Award in 2011.