Mumbai Court permits Naresh Goyal to be hospitalised for 2 months to avail cancer treatment but rejects interim bail

A Mumbai court on Thursday rejected the interim bail plea filed by Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal but permitted him to be hospitalized for two months to avail cancer treatment [Naresh Goyal v. Enforcement Directorate]..Special judge MG Deshpande said that Goyal's medical condition was not such that it would require grant of immediate interim bail. The order was pronounced in a plea by Goyal after medical reports showed probability of malignant growths in his body."Neither private doctors nor the Medical Board has asserted that this sickness is life threatening. Moreover, Goyal's health condition has not exhibited any alarming symptom. There is likelihood of positive recovery and complete eradication of the tumor with prompt treatment. The alleged sickness which holds a strong hope of recovery does not meet the qualifications to warrant immediate interim bail," the Court said in its order. The Court also made it clear that even if the present application is rejected, it will not preclude Goyal from making similar plea in the future under different circumstances..Goyal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 1 in a money laundering case initiated on the basis of a first information report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The CBI case stemmed from a complaint filed by Canara Bank for an alleged fraud involving ₹7,000 crores.Goyal approached the sessions court for bail after the Bombay High Court rejected his plea challenging his arrest and seeking his release.When Goyal appeared before the special court on January 6, he broke down in court and requested the judge not to provide him any medical treatment saying he has lost all hope in life and would rather die in prison.Following this, on January 9, the special judge permitted Goyal to consult private doctors for a medical checkup.The reports from such check-ups revealed malignant tumors in Goyal's body. Goyal then filed an application seeking interim medical bail..On February 23, Goyal's lawyer Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda submitted that the JJ hospital board confirmed reports of malignant growths in Goyal's body and further treatment was not available in jail. Ponda argued that Goyal is entitled to undergo treatment at a private hospital and sought medical bail for six months to recuperate after undergoing chemotherapy. Ponda also added that chances of infection after treatment will be higher in prison due to hygiene issues. .ED counsel Sunil Gonsalves suggested that Goyal could undergo treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital and could continue to visit the hospital after treatment with police escort..The Court in its order today observed that Gonsalves' suggestion ought to be considered in the right perspective. "All other private hospitals even if as per the choice of Goyal are allowed, those have certain limitations and Tata hospital would be the best to deal with that situation," the Court suggested. .Along with Ponda, Advocates Ameet Naik and Abhishek Kale from Naik Naik & Co appeared for Goyal.