Sc gives six week medical bail to satyendar jain

Sc gives six week medical bail to satyendar jain

The Supreme Court on Friday granted a six-week-long medical bail to former Health Minister Satyendar Jain, while refusing to accept the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) explanation that his drastic weight loss in jail is due to his faith in the Jain tradition of fasting.

A Vacation Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and P.S. Narasimha allowed Mr. Jain to consult a private hospital of his choice.

“We think it appropriate that the citizen is having a right to take treatment of his choice, at his own expenses, in a private hospital,” the Bench noted in the order.

The medical evaluation report from the hospital has to be submitted in court on July 10, the next date of hearing.

The ED had arrested Mr. Jain in a money laundering case based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was granted regular bail by a trial court on September 6, 2019, in the CBI case. On April 6, the Delhi High Court dismissed the former Minister’s bail plea in the ED case, noting the witnesses’ claim that he was the conceptualiser, initiator and fund provider in the alleged crime.

Mr. Jain, represented by senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, told the apex court that he was suffering from muscular atrophy and has already lost 35 kg. He added that he was in the waiting list for a spinal vertebrae surgery and has been in the ICU.

“He is a Jain. He is not taking food in jail. They believe in fasting and the weight comes down,” Additional Solicitor General S.V Raju, appearing for the ED, countered. However, granting Mr. Jain interim bail on medical grounds, the court said there was no need to have an AIIMs team to evaluate him as of now.

The court directed Mr. Jain to not hold any press conference on “any issue” while out on bail or leave the national capital without the permission of the trial court.