Naresh Goyal gets court nod to undergo tests at private hospital

Goyal was last week permitted by the court to visit specialist doctors for various ailments. One of the doctors had recommended further tests to the 74-year-old, who was arrested on September 1, 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which claimed that he had laundered money, siphoning off loans given to Jet Airways by Canara Bank to the tune of Rs 538.62 crore.

The court said that it had noted Goyal’s age and medical problems and an opportunity was given to him to avail the advice of his private doctors. “The present health situation now certified by both expert doctors cannot be disbelieved and on the basis thereof he (Goyal) cannot be directed to visit JJ Hospital and get the tests prescribed by his doctors done, that too at the mercy of the Superintendent, Arthur Road, Chief Medical Officer Arthur Road Jail and doctors in JJ Hospital,” special judge M G Deshpande said in his order. The court added that no prejudice will be caused to the ED if Goyal is permitted to visit his private doctors again and get the tests done as prescribed by them. The court noted that one of the doctors also expressed an apprehension that if proper treatment is not given to him, there is likelihood that he may suffer a stroke or paralysis.

“Apart from this, the mental condition of this 74-year-old cannot be ignored, which indicates that he has lost every hope of life,” the court said. Goyal had at the previous hearing told the court that 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”.