'No Hope For Future, Let Me Die In Prison': Jet Airways Founder Naresh Goyal To PMLA Court

Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, currently in judicial custody in a money laundering case, broke down before a PMLA court in Mumbai on Friday and pleaded not to be sent to JJ Hospital, expressing hopelessness and a preference to die in prison.

Special Judge MG Deshpande assured Goyal that he would receive proper physical and mental healthcare, and recorded:

“He is continuously weeping and further with folded trembling hands and submitted the court as, “Don't send him to J.J. Hospital and allow him to die in the jail itself. Now, he has lost every hope of life and better he should die rather keeping him alive in such situation”. He further submitted that he is entering the age of 75 years and he has no hope for any future. Better if he dies in the jail, his destiny would rescue him.”

During the hearing of Goyal's bail application, Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda apprised the court of Goyal's deteriorating physical and mental health, highlighting that Goyal, despite previous advice, now desired to personally attend the court and make submissions. Ponda emphasized Goyal's advanced age and precarious health, urging the court to consider any personal submissions from Goyal in light of these conditions.

Following Ponda's arguments, Goyal was produced in the court by jail authorities. Judge Deshpande recorded that Goyal was trembling and sought a few minutes of personal hearing. He described his severe health struggles, including continuous tremors, swelling and pain in his knees, difficulty in standing, frequent urination issues with pain and blood, and the challenges he faced in seeking medical assistance due to the limitations within the prison environment.

Goyal conveyed that he preferred not to be referred to the state-run JJ Hospital, citing the arduous journey with other accused and long queues.

“In this background he further urged that he has become very weak and there is no use of referring him to J.J. Hospital as the journey with other accused persons as per convenience of jail and Escort Party from Arthur Road Jail to J.J. Hospital is very troublesome, hectic and tedious which he cannot bear and sustain. Apart from this, when he is taken to J.J. Hospital always there is a long queue of patients and he cannot reach to the doctor in time and whenever he is examined by the doctor further follow up is not possible”, the court recorded.

The court further recorded that Goyal, weeping, highlighted that his wife is in an advanced stage of illness and undergoing treatment but has nobody to look after her, as their only daughter was also suffering from health issues. All of them are unattended despite needing quick medical assistance, he said.

Judge Deshpande noted Goyal's submissions and 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. He directed Goyal's lawyers to take appropriate steps and adjourned the matter to January 16, 2024, for compliance and further arguments on his bail application.

Goyal, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on September 1, 2023, faces charges related to an alleged fraud of Rs. 538 Crores, as per the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based on a complaint by Canara Bank. The Bombay High Court in November 2023 rejected his plea challenging the arrest after which he approached the sessions court seeking bail. Goyal is currently lodged in Arthur Road Central Prison, Mumbai.

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