Justice Vikas Mahajan, in an order passed on June 7, stated, “The court cannot assume the role of an expert and make an assessment of its own regarding the medical condition of the petitioner… In the circumstances, this Court deems it appropriate to constitute a medical board to evaluate the medical condition of the petitioner.”
![[Land for Jobs 'scam'] Delhi HC Directs Medical Assessment of Lalu's Aide, Amit Katyal](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/MicrosoftTeams-image-63.png?resize=585%2C329&ssl=1)
NEW DELHI: On 7th June: The Delhi High Court directed the formation of a medical board to assess the health of Amit Katyal, a close associate of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who is seeking interim bail on medical grounds in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in the Indian Railways. Katyal recently underwent bariatric surgery.
Despite a jail report indicating no underlying medical condition, the court instructed the AIIMS director to form a team of doctors from at least three different specialties to evaluate his health.
Emphasizing that the right to health is a component of the right to life under Article 21, the High Court stated that this right cannot be restricted without due process. It further noted that interim bail may be granted if specialized treatment, unavailable in jail, is required.
Justice Vikas Mahajan, in an order passed on June 7, stated,
“The court cannot assume the role of an expert and make an assessment of its own regarding the medical condition of the petitioner… In the circumstances, this Court deems it appropriate to constitute a medical board to evaluate the medical condition of the petitioner.”
The court directed the medical board to assess Katyal’s health and submit a report by June 14, indicating whether he needs specialized treatment and care that cannot be provided in jail.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) argued that Katyal’s medical issues were not severe and that he was receiving adequate care in jail.
Katyal, represented by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Vikas Pahwa, sought bail, citing the need for treatment not available in Tihar jail, where he has been held since his arrest on November 11, 2023.
Katyal was released from judicial custody on February 6, subsequent to the granting of interim bail a day prior. The petition contesting this relief was lodged by the ED just as the four-week term approached its conclusion. Justice Sharma, considering the circumstances, deemed it inappropriate to annul the interim bail granted to Katyal.
The ED alleged that Katyal acquired land from job aspirants on behalf of Lalu Prasad through a company he directed, AK Infosystems Private Limited.
The case is scheduled for the next hearing on June 17.
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Amit Katyal, seeking interim bail on medical grounds in a money laundering case linked to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in the Indian Railways, recently underwent bariatric surgery. The ED alleged that Katyal acquired land from job aspirants on behalf of Lalu Prasad through a company he directed, AK Infosystems Private Limited.
Katyal was arrested by the ED on November 11, 2023, under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency alleges that Katyal procured land from multiple job applicants on behalf of Lalu Prasad, the former railway minister and RJD chief. According to the ED, Katyal served as the director of AK Infosystems Private Limited, a company implicated in acquiring land for Lalu Prasad. Several other members of the RJD leader’s family are also implicated in the case.
