New Delhi: The Bombay HC on Monday granted two months bail to the founder of Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal, on medical grounds. A bail application based on health grounds was filed by Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal in an alleged money laundering case.
His bail plea was opposed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) counsel Hiten Venegaonkar since he is already hospitalized at a private hospital of his choice and there is no expert opinion saying he is fit to be discharged, hence bail ought not to be considered at this stage. Goyal’s plea says that even under more stringent laws like the PMLA pre-trial incarceration must be balanced with the basic Human Rights of the accused and “cannot be used to inflict a de facto death penalty on the accused”.
Senior attorney Harish Salve for Goyal contended that Whipple’s surgery, which is extremely risky, was recommended after Goyal received a cancer diagnosis; According to him, chemotherapy might simply slow the disease’s progression rather than curing it. Goyal is presently at a private hospital. His wife, recently had a relapse of her cancer said the counsel adding she “may have few months left to live.’’
According to Goyal’s most recent medical report, which was received from Reliance Hospital on April 23, he would only receive chemotherapy at this time because to his wife’s illness rather than Whipple surgery. The attorney stated that the aforementioned circumstances are consistent with Art. 21 (the right to life) and fall under the purview of PMLA Section 45. Goyal, who has been detained by the central probing agency since September 1, 2023, filed a petition with the high court after the special trial judge denied him bail due to a medical condition.
