MUMBAI: Observing that health is precious, and getting proper treatment is a valuable right, a special PMLA court on Tuesday allowed 74-year-old arrested Jet Airways (India) Ltd (JIL) founder Naresh Goyal’s plea to visit his private doctors. The court noted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cannot oppose this right. Additionally, on humanitarian grounds, Goyal was also allowed to meet his ailing and bedridden wife, co-accused Anita Goyal, at their Altamount Road home on Saturday and be there from 10.30 am until jail closing time. “His only daughter is also reportedly not well enough to look after her mother. In this way, the accused and his wife have become orphaned. In such a situation, the desire to meet the ailing wife once is quite natural. No prejudice will be caused to the ED if the same is allowed,” special judge MG Deshpande said.
The judge further stated that considering this exceptional situation, meeting the ends of justice on humanitarian grounds and empathy warrants consideration of Naresh Goyal’s request. “The ED can depute their staff to monitor this process, so that there will be no activity which would be allegedly detrimental to their case,” the judge said.
Lodged in Arthur Road jail since his arrest in a money laundering case in September, on Saturday, a trembling Naresh Goyal cried before the court about how he had lost every hope of life and that it would be better that he should die rather than keeping him alive in such a situation. The judge had then assured him that he would not be left helpless and that all possible care of his mental and physical health would be taken with proper treatment. The judge also noted that Goyal needs assistance even to stand.
Citing limitations inside Arthur Road jail in providing him medical assistance, Naresh Goyal moved a plea for allowing him to undergo medical check-ups from his consulting specialist doctors on the dates provided in the table in the application. The ED opposed the plea.
In Tuesday’s six-page order, the judge said that in the background of Goyal’s natural, genuine submission and the limitations inside the jail to meet his health issues and assist him every time, no prejudice will be caused if he is permitted to attend his private doctors and get himself examined, diagnosed properly and correctly.
The judge allowed Goyal to meet five different private specialists from Wednesday to Friday. “The Superintendent, Arthur Road Jail, shall arrange the Escort Party at the expenses of the accused, Naresh Goyal, well in advance, for his visits to private doctors and his wife. The ED shall depute their adequate staff from Arthur Road Jail to accompany the accused when he is taken out of jail, until resumed in the jail,” the judge said.
The judge further said that all doctors attending Goyal were to note that he should not be admitted to the hospital without the court’s permission.
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Armed with a degree in political science and law, Rebecca Samerve...
Read MoreArmed with a degree in political science and law, Rebecca Samervel waltzed into journalism after a brief stint in modeling. As a reporter at The Times of India, Mumbai, she covers courts. She is a self-confessed food-a-holic. Travelling, politics and television are her passions. If you want to find her during the week the only place to look is the Bombay high court.
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