Don't consider LNJP's medical report on Jain's bail: Delhi HC

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court directed the trial court, which is hearing the Delhi minister Satyender Jain's bail plea, not to consider the minister's medical report issued by the city administration-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital on deciding his bail petition, IANS reported.

The high court was hearing the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application seeking directions that the minister's medical examination be done at a hospital independent of the Delhi government.

Justice Jasmeet Singh's bench issued notice and said, "It is directed that the special judge shall not consider the medical report from LNJP till the next date of hearing," posting further hearing on the matter to August 17.

Along with its plea, the ED contended that though Jain was in judicial custody since May 30, even after the passing of 46 days, the minister spent only 20 days in the jail dispensary as he was admitted to LNJP for 26 days.

The central probe agency mentioned the Calcutta High Court's direction in the case of West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee not to admit him into a state-run hospital and asked to send him to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

ED had moved to Delhi High Court, challenging the July 6 and July 19 orders passed by the Special Judge rejecting its prayer and sought the medical evaluation of Jain to be done at hospitals like AIIMS, RML, or Safdarjung, instead of the present health facility.

In its plea, ED had alleged that the Investigating Officer (IO) in the corruption case had visited LNJP in connection with the crime. The officer found that minister Jain was sleeping in his bed without any cannula on his hand, and even the multipara patient monitor was switched off. Jain was not being monitored by any medical instrument, though his wife was present in the room, ED submitted.

The plea said, "When the IO reached the room, the respondent immediately wore the oxygen mask, the BP apparatus belt, and the monitor was switched on. It was under these suspicious circumstances and the fact that prima facie the condition of the respondent was not such which required hospitalisation, an application was preferred (before the trial court) seeking a direction that he may be admitted to any independent hospital like the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital or AIIMS Hospital at New Delhi for an independent evaluation of his health."

Meanwhile, CBI has accused Jain and his wife, along with some others, of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On March 31, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to companies beneficially owned and controlled by the minister, IANS reports.