Mumbai Court seeks report from JJ Hospital after medical tests of Naresh Goyal reveal tumour

A Mumbai court on Thursday directed the state-run JJ Hospital to constitute a medical board to examine Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal who approached the court for urgent medical bail after his recent medical tests revealed malignant tumours in his body..Special judge MG Deshpande assigned to hear matters under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) directed the hospital to constitute a medical board and submit its report and opinion by February 20 for the Court’s consideration.The judge also directed the medical board to ascertain Goyal’s sickness and whether treatment for the same would be available in the government hospital. .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. Senior Aabad Ponda appearing for Goyal highlighted the latter's medical condition.Advocate Sunil Gonsalves for the ED requested time to file a reply to the application. He suggested constitution of a medical board by JJ Hospital that could examine Goyal’s medical reports.Based on the medical board’s opinion, ED would submit their reply with more clarity as they are not experts in analysing medical reports, Gonsalves said.Ponda agreed but requested the court to order an expedited constitution of a board.The Court agreed and directed JJ hospital to constitute a medical board and submit its report by February 20. .Ponda was briefed by advocates Ameet Naik and Abhishek Kale from Naik Naik & Co.