Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, an accused in the alleged fraud of Rs 538 crore at Canara Bank, on Saturday, told a special court here with “folded hands” that he had “lost every hope of life” and it will be “better if he dies in jail” than living in his present condition.

The septuagenarian, who turned teary-eyed, submitted that he misses his wife Anita very badly and said she is in the advanced stage of cancer, according to court records.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Goyal on September 1 last year in connection with the alleged bank fraud. He is currently in judicial custody at Arthur Road jail here.

Mr Goyal had moved a bail application before special judge M G Desphande.

He was produced before the court on Saturday and during the proceedings Mr Goyal requested for a few minutes of personal hearing, which the judge allowed.

As per the court’s ‘roznama’ (record of daily hearings), Mr Goyal with folded hands and “continuous tremors in his whole body” submitted that “his health is very bad and precarious”.

The businessman said that his wife is bedridden and their only daughter too is unwell. The jail staff has their limitations in helping him, said Mr Goyal.

“I heard him patiently and also observed him when he made the submissions as such. I found that his whole body was trembling. He needs assistance even to stand,” the judge noted.

Goyal pointed to his knees and said they were swollen and painful and he was unable to fold his legs.

The Jet Airways founder brought to the court’s notice that he has severe pain while urinating and sometimes blood is passed through urine, coupled with unsustainable pain. Most of the time, he hasn’t been able to get assistance, he said.

The businessman told the judge that he had become very weak and there was no use in referring him to J J Hospital. The journey with other inmates as per the convenience of prison staff and escort party from Arthur Road jail to the hospital is “very troublesome, hectic and tedious which he cannot bear and sustain”.

Also, there is always a long queue of patients and he cannot reach the doctor in time and whenever he is examined by the doctor further follow-up is not possible, Goyal said, adding that Goyal said that these are “very badly affecting his health”.

He said his wife Anita is in the advanced stage of cancer and undergoing treatment.

There is no one to look after her as his only daughter is also suffering from health issues, submitted Goyal, with tears in his eyes.

He requested the court not to send him to J J Hospital and instead “allow him to die in the jail itself”.

Goyal said, “he has lost every hope of life and (it’s) better he should die rather than be alive in such a situation”.

He submitted that he would turn 75 and he has no hope for any future. It’s “better if he dies in jail, his destiny would rescue him”, he said.

Goyal also submitted that his health doesn’t permit him to attend the court personally. This time, Goyal said, he insisted that he be produced before the court so that he would be able to submit everything personally. He said he won’t insist on physical appearance any more.

“I have taken note of everything he has submitted and also assured the accused that he will not be left helpless and all possible care of his mental and physical health will be taken with proper treatment,” the judge said after hearing Goyal.

The court directed his lawyers to take appropriate steps concerning his health.

In his bail plea filed last month, Goyal cited multiple medical ailments like heart condition, prostate and orthopaedic issues and claimed there were reasonable grounds to believe that “he is not guilty”.

The ED has filed a response to his bail plea and the matter will be further heard on January 16.

The ED case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from an FIR of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Jet Airways, Goyal, his wife Anita and some former company executives of the now-grounded private airline in connection with an alleged fraud of Rs 538 crore at the state-run Canara Bank.

The FIR was registered on the bank’s complaint alleging that it had sanctioned credit and loans worth Rs 848.86 crore to Jet Airways (India) Limited of which Rs 538.62 crore was outstanding.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has created waves at the box office. The stellar performance of the film has prompted the team to organize a grand success party at a luxurious hotel in Mumbai today, with the his family joining in on the celebrations.

Ranbir Kapoor’s family including Alia Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt and Neetu Kapoor were seen in attendance to celebrate the success of Animal.

Take a look at the pictures:

Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League party has been the prime minister of Bangladesh since 2008 and is poised to win a fourth straight term because the election has been boycotted by the main opposition party – the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The BNP is led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest after being convicted on corruption charges. The party has called a 48-hour nationwide general strike, which began at 6 am on Saturday. Party spokesperson Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the strike was aimed at pressing for their demands for “resignation of the illegal government, establishment of a non-party neutral government and release of all party leaders and activists from prison”.
There have been incidents of violence and arson ahead of the election. At least five schools, including four designated as polling centres for the general election, have been set ablaze. Four coaches of the Jessore-Dhaka Benapole Express were also set on fire on Friday, killing four people. Arson related to the polls is suspected in both incidents.
Kazi Habibul Awal, Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, said there is no question about the legitimacy of elections. “One issue is violence is visible and the voters are aware of the violence. If it is repeated, that may have a negative impact on the voters in turning up at polling stations, and I have no hesitation in admitting that. But we have engaged 8 lakh law enforcement personnel, all well-armed, who will be on duty during polling time,” he said.
“This time, a little crisis is going to happen as one major political group has said don’t go to the polling stations. Another major political group has said come to the polling station and show people that voters have turned up… Had BNP participated in the election, it would have been more competitive, more inclusive and more festive. That is a reality,” Mr Awal added.
Sheikh Hasina, whose government has arrested thousands of rival politicians and supporters ahead of the polls, has urged pro-democratic and law-abiding parties not to fuel ideas that “disrupt” the country’s constitutional process, news agency PTI reported.
The prime minister is credited with turning around the country’s economy and supercharging its garments industry. The growth has, however, slowed since mid-2022 and experts have said economic stability will be a major challenge for the next government. 
Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, will monitor the election. India has said the election is an “internal matter” while some countries, including the United States, have called for credible and inclusive polls, according to PTI.
Voting will be held for 300 constituencies in the 350-strong Parliament – the Jatiyo Shangsad. The other 50 seats are reserved for women and are allotted based on the strength of the parties in the Parliament after the election.
Nearly 2,000 candidates are in the fray and a record 5.1% of them are women. Voting will begin at 8 am local time – when Sheikh Hasina is expected to cast her ballot – and end at 4 pm. Counting will start after voting ends and initial results are expected by Monday.