MUMBAI, APRIL 4: Former Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader, Udyanraje Bhosale, accused of murdering a political rival, will now have to wait for three more weeks as the Mumbai High Court has adjourned to April 24 his petition seeking permission for treatment in a private hospital at Pune.Bhosale's petition came up for hearing yesterday before Justice T K Chandrashekhar Das, who felt that there was no urgency in the matter because the petitioner had himself sought adjournment.Considering the plea of the state which has expressed grave doubts about his illness, the judge observed that no urgent relief was necessary at this juncture.Meanwhile, medical reports of Bhosale were placed before the court which perused it. As per court directives on March 14 last, Bhosale was referred to a Government hospital in Miraj where Dr Subodh Danawade examined him. His reports have indicated normal condition as regards blood pressure, palpitation rate, electocardiogram and stress test. However, the doctor has advised him coronory angiography.The Additional Advocate General, P Janardhan, said the prosecution had no objection to his treatment at any hospital run by the government but was opposed to his plea for treatment in Pune hospital.The court has asked Bhosale, the 13th descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji, to suggest any government hospital close to Satara where he would prefer treatment.Accused of murdering NCP leader Sharad Lehve on the eve of assembly elections at Satara on September 11 last year, Bhosale has been undergoing treatment in a civil hospital and has evaded custodial interrogation. His bail plea has also been turned down.On the last occasion, the court had directed the government to get Bhosale examined by an expert panel of doctors. This was complied with and report submitted in a sealed cover to the court.However, on perusing the report, the court was not satisfied and expressed that no specific illness or medical problems suffered by Bhosale had been stated and that it was general in nature.He was then directed to be examined for stress test and other specific examinations for cardiac related problems. Accordingly, Bhosale was referred to Miraj hospital which has now forwarded the report to the court.According to Bhosale, he was not involved in the crime and that on the day of Lehve's murder he was closetted with his colleagues in a hotel room to plan election strategy.The prosecution, on the other hand, has produced evidence to show that Lehve was murdered in broad daylight by Bhosale's associates at his instance on the eve of elections because the deceased was supporting Udyanraje's uncle, who also contested the polls.
