The founder of Jet Airways, Naresh Goyal, who was recently arrested in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud of Rs 538 lakh, has said the prison medical officer is not looking into his health concerns. He told a special court that he is facing multiple medical issues in the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai.
The court heard Goyal, who was produced through video conference, told the court he was facing multiple medical issues. Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the court reportedly sought a report from the Chief Medical Officer of Arthur Road prison in Mumbai on Goyal's complaint.
Special PMLA Judge M. G. Deshpande saw that the medical issues had not been reported by the CMO to the court despite directions given for the same.
The court said that s health issues were not reported immediately. The CMO's report must be submitted on 30 September, the agency said in a statement.
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 issues pointed out in the chart by Goyal.
Besides that, Goyal also filed an application for home cooked food while in prison and also sent a chart that referred to his health issues that took place while he was in prison.
The court has also asked the Jail Superintendent to submit a report on whether Goyal's food is suitable in the background of the chart produced by him.
A court spokesman said Goyal's custody was extended to October 4 by special judge MG Deshpande. Goyal, who was arrested on September 1, is charged with money laundering involving loans and credit lines given to the airline by Canara Bank.
The money laundering case is based on the first information report against Jet Airways, Goyal's wife Anita and some former company executives, which was registered by the CBI on May 3. The FIR filed by Canara Bank alleges a fraud worth Rs. 538 billion.
The bank had spoken to the agency and said that it had sanctioned credit limits and loans to Jet Airways Ltd, a number of which has not been repaid.
In July 2021, the CBI said the account was declared 'fraud'. The airline has accused Jet Airways and its founders of siphoning money. According to the agency, between April 1, 2011 and June 30, 2019, the airline had spent Rs 1,152.62 lakh on professional and consultancy expenses.
Suspicious transactions were identified among various enterprises linked to the airline, with key management personnel also alleged to be connected to these companies.
The investigation found that Jet Airways paid Rs. 420.43 crore of the total of Rs. 1,152.62 crore in professional and consultancy expenses to companies whose business nature did not match the service descriptions on their invoices.
Even personal expenses such as salaries of staff, phone bills and vehicle expenses of the Goyal family were paid by JIL, the FIR said.
The ED has claimed that the Canara loan is nothing but proceeds of crime that have been diverted and siphoned off by the ED, despite the loan being declared as a non-performing asset in 2019.
On 25 September, the Enforcement Directorate issued a warning to Dubai-based businessman Hasmukh Gardi, a former promoter of Jet Airways who is reportedly close to Goyal, in connection with the Rs 538-crore fraud case. The central agency will question Gardi, who is also named in the Panama Papers, who is accused of his involvement in money laundering.
In April 2019, Jet Airways ceased operations due to a severe cash crunch and increasing debt. The airline was bought in June 2021 by a joint venture between Dubai-based businessman Murari Lal Jalan and London-based Kalrock Capital.
Hopes of Jet Airways comeback will skyrocket after Jalan-Kalrock Consortium deposits Rs 100 crore with lenders.