Naresh Goyal getting best treatment, health may worsen if given bail: Court

The judge observed that as per opinions of the medical practitioners treating him, there are high chances of improvement in his health if the hospitalisation granted by court is continued and his health would deteriorate or worsen if he was granted bail, exposing him to infections.

The court noted that as per the doctors, the medical aid he is presently receiving in the multispecialty Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital certainly would not have been available in jail or even in home.

“All available medical treatments, as per the applicant’s own choice, have been provided to him, and the doctors, who are the best judges of his health, have been taking every care and step to ensure his well-being,” special judge M G Deshpande noted. While the special court designated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) rejected bail to Goyal on Wednesday, the detailed order was made available on Saturday.

The court noted that none of the doctors treating Goyal has stated a word that if he is granted bail that would reform his health. It went on to observe, “On the contrary, the doctors’ reports prima facie indicate the need for his long hospitalisation, which this court has already granted. Then why is a bail application made on these grounds? On the contrary, the chances of improvement in his health are higher if his hospitalisation is continued.”

The judge noted that since the beginning the special court has considered the age and illness of applicant and his wife Anita Goyal and has “generously granted all available lawful reliefs to them”.

In January, Goyal had told the court he had “lost every hope of life and better he should die rather keeping him alive in such a situation and he had no hope for any future”.

“If he is granted bail, it could potentially worsen his health because once he is discharged to enjoy the liberty of bail, there is every chance of his health deteriorating, getting affected by infections as indicated by the opinions of the doctors submitted to this court,” the court added.

Goyal was arrested on September 1, 2023 by the ED, which claimed he had laundered money, siphoning off loans to the tune of Rs 538.62 crore that had been given to Jet Airways by Canara Bank.