Mumbai: In a relief for Rakesh Wadhwan, promoter of Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), who has been arrested for his alleged role in the multi-crore money laundering scam involving Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank, the Bombay High Court has asked the prison authorities to inform whether any government hospital in Mumbai has a pacemaker implantation facility.
Alternatively, the court has said that if the facility is not available at any government hospital then Wadhwan can opt for the procedure to be carried out at a private hospital of his choice and bear the expenses.
Justice Bharti Dangre passed the order on September 27 while hearing bail application filed by Wadhwan seeking release on medical grounds due to his advanced age and ailments.
Additional public prosecutor Prajakta Shinde submitted a ‘current clinical status’ report dated September 22 by KEM Hospital which stated that Wadhwan suffers from chronic kidney disease and also has morbidity. The report further stated that his heart rate fluctuates, due to which he is advised to go for Dual Chamber Pacemaker implantation, which necessarily would involve Heart Angiography. However, the said Dual Chamber Pacemaker is not available at KEM Hospital currently, added the report.
After going through the report¸ justice Dangre observed, “The medical reports of the patient reflect that he (Wadhwan) requires immediate medical treatment of acute nature…”
However, the court wondered whether Wadhwan was fit for undergoing the procedure. “The question then arises is when and where it will have to be medically ascertained whether the applicant is fit for this implantation or he will have to wait and another question that arises is where the procedure can be carried out,” added Justice Dangre.
Aabad Ponda, Wadhwan’s counsel, submitted a report of a consultant cardiologist, who was permitted to visit Wadhwan as per earlier court order. The consultant cardiologist concurred with the opinion of the KEM Hospital advising permanent pacemaker implantation and added that it would be helpful for the patient's recovery if multidisciplinary team approach is practiced.
The HC has kept Wadhwan’s bail application for hearing on September 28.
