Chhagan Bhujbal in lap of luxury: Anjali Damania

Mumbai: Activist and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member Anjali Damania has filed an intervention application in a special PMLA court complaining to the court that its order was misused in the name of getting a medical test done and former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal is having a luxurious time in a private  hospital.

In her application, Ms Damania has said that she had filed a PIL alleging misuse of power and amassing property more than their known source of income by Bhujbal and his family members, which resulted in registration of the complaint against them and, later, in their arrest.

In her application, she has contended that doctors of Sir JJ Hospital had recommended that Bhujbal needed to get three tests done immediately — Holter monitoring, thallium scan and electro physiological study. Dr T.P. Lahane of JJ Hospital had earlier stated that Bhujbal had been advised to undergo tests to find out the exact cause for his ailments, and only private hospitals like Lilavati or Jaslok conduct such tests.

Later, Arthur Road jail authorities approached the PMLA court requesting it to allow Bhujbal to undergo the thallium scan at a private hospital because KEM Hospital, where the test could have been done, was undergoing renovations. Following this, the court had allowed jail authorities to get Bhujbal’s thallium scan conducted at a private hospital and Bhujbal was directed to bear the cost.

Ms Damania has claimed that following the court order, the first two tests were done before November 2 and Bhujbal was allowed to be shifted to Bombay Hospital for the third test. It is alleged in Ms Damania’s application that the thallium scan does not require patients to be admitted in hospital as it can be done in the OPD too. She has further claimed that even if the accused patient needed admission due to ill health, it was the duty of jail authorities to seek the court’s direction because they do not have power to grant any additional relief or extension.

She has also requested the court to recall CCTV footage of the hospital as she had  learnt that unscrupulous people were entering and exiting Bhujbal’s room.

Bhujbal’s lawyer R.B. Mokashi was unavailable for comment on this issue.