The founder of jet Airways, Naresh Goyal, who was arrested in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud, has told a court that the prison medical officer is not looking into his health concerns. Goyal said he is facing multiple medical issues in the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai.
Goyal told the court he was facing multiple medical issues. Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the court has reported a report from the Chief Medical Officer of Arthur Road prison in Mumbai on Goyal's complaint.
Special PMLA judge MG Deshpande said the medical issues had not been reported by the CMO to the court despite directions given for the same.
The court said that his health issues were not reported immediately. The CMO's report has to be submitted on September 30th, it said.
The court directed Goyal's lawyers Aabad Ponda and Ameet Naik to submit the copy of the medical chart to the CMO and directed the CMO to submit a report on the problems pointed out in the chart by Goyal.
Besides this, Goyal also filed an application for home-cooked food while in prison and also submitted a chart that referred to his health issues that took place while he was in prison.
In addition, the court has asked the Jail Superintendent to submit a report on whether Goyal's food is suitable in the background of the chart produced by him.
Goyal's jail time extended to October 4 by special judge MG Deshpande. Goyal, who was arrested on 1 September in the money laundering case involving loans and credit lines given to the airline by Canara Bank.
The money laundering case stems from a first information report filed by CBI on May 3 that alleges that Jet Airways, Goyal, his wife Anita and other former company executives were behind the money laundering. The FIR alleged a Rs. 538-crore fraud at Canara Bank.
The bank had asked the agency for comment, claiming that it had sanctioned credit limits and loans to Jet Airways Ltd, which has not been repaid.
The CBI had said the account was declared 'fraud' in July 2021. The airline has accused Jet Airways and its founders of siphoning money. Between April 1, 2011 and June 30, 2019, the airline had reportedly spent Rs 1,152.62 crore on professional and consultancy expenses.
The alleged conspiracy that involved the airline was identified among those linked to the airline, with key management personnel also linked to these companies.
The investigation found that Jet Airways paid 420.43 lakh in professional and consultancy expenses to individuals whose business model did not match the service descriptions on their invoices.
Even personal expenses, such as salaries of staff, phone bills and vehicle expenses, among others, were paid by JIL, the FIR said.
While the Canara Bank loan was declared as a non-performing asset in 2019, the ED has said that the loan of 538 crore was nothing but proceeds of crime that were diverted and siphoned off.
On September 25, the Enforcement Directorate ummonited Dubai-based businessman Hasmukh Gardi, a former promoter of Jet Airways, in connection with the Rs. 538crore fraud case. The central agency will question Gardi, who is also listed in the Panama Papers, why he was indicted for money laundering.
In April 2019, Jet Airways discontinued operations due to a severe cash crunch and rising debt. After an insolvency process, the airline was acquired by Murari Lal Jalan and Kalrock Capital, an UAE-based businessman.
Also today, the hopes of Jet Airways comeback will skyrocket after Jalan-Kalrock Consortium deposits Rs 100 crore with lenders.