Land for Job scam: Delhi HC constitutes medical board to evaluate health of businessman Amit Katyal

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has constituted a medical board to evaluate the medical condition of businessman Amit Katyal, who is said to be a close aide of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
He recently moved the court with a plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds in connection with money laundering case related to the land for job scam case.
The bench of Justice Vikas Mahajan in an order passed on June 7, asked Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to constitute a Medical Board of Doctors from a minimum three different specialties with respecthaving regard to the nature of ailments the petitioner is stated to be suffering from, for evaluating the medical condition of the petitioner.
The Jail Superintendent is directed to furnish all medical records of the petitioner to the Medical Board of Doctors constituted on or before June 11 said the court.
Court further stated that, in the absence of an opinion of the experts it is difficult for the court to arrive at a conclusion as to whether it is a case for grant of interim bail on the medical grounds.
The Court cannot assume the role of an expert and make assessment of its own as regard the medical condition of the petitioner on the basis of medical records placed on the Court file.
At the same time, on humanitarian grounds, the medical condition of the petitioner as borne out from the medical status report cannot be simply brushed aside given the fact that there is material on record suggesting that the petitioner is a heart patient and has undergone bariatric surgery recently besides having other ailments.
Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Vikas Pahwa appeared for Amit Katyal submitted that it is borne from the records of the case that the petitioner is not keeping well and is sick and infirm. It was submitted that the petitioner has undergone bariatric surgery in April, 2024 and requires a specialized diet and proper care for his recovery. It was further submitted that the petitioner has been vomiting continuously and thus his energy is low at all times and he is unable to perform his daily needs and the same is also borne out from the Medical Status Report.
Appearing for ED, Special Counsel submitted that the conduct of the petitioner disentitles him from any relief in as much as before the trial Court, the ED obtained an independent medical opinion on the condition of the petitioner, when he sought an extension of the interim bail, from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Deen Dayal Hospital, Delhi to submit that the petitioner was hiding his actual medical condition.
He further apprised the High Court that the trial court while disposing of his plea seeking extension of interim bail, observed that the accused has been permitted normal activity and he has recovered from the bariatric surgery conductcd upon him.
As a sequitor, he submits that the order dated 30 April, 2024, has not been challenged by the petitioner and has attained finality. He also pointed out that certain reliefs and facilities in the form of prescribed medications, prescribed diet and consultation with his doctors via video conferencing at Medanta Medicity were allowed to petitioner vide order dated May 1, 2024.
Katyal was arrested by the ED on November 11, 2023 by Enforcement Directorate alleging that Katyal had acquired land from several job aspirants on behalf of the RJD chief when he was the railway minister in the UPA 1 government.