Prisons dept orders probe into Bhujbal’s hospitalisation
Hospital sources said Bhujbal’s blood pressure was high (180/120) when he was admitted
The state prisons department has ordered an inquiry into the hospitalization of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who, sources claimed, had complained of toothache on April 19, but was admitted to St George hospital for chest pain.
Bhujbal was arrested by the enforcement directorate (ED) on March 14 in connection with a money laundering case related to a controversial deal between the state government and a private developer. He was lodged at the Arthur Road jail, after which he was remanded in judicial custody.
“We have ordered an inquiry into the incident and are looking into the reasons for his admission to the hospital,” said Bipin Kumar Singh, inspector general of prisons.
Dr Jagdish Bhawani, medical superintendent of the hospital, said, “The reference letter from Dr Rahul Ghule from jail mentions St George Hospital/ Goverment Dental College. We treated him because the physician confirmed he needed admission.”
Doctors said Bhujbal is in the ICU and is under observation.
Hospital sources said Bhujbal’s blood pressure was high (180/120) when he was admitted.
His counsel had earlier told the court he has undergone an angioplasty, suffers from asthma, sleep apnea, has dietary restrictions and his blood sugar levels need to be monitored regularly. Both the ED and the anti-corruption bureau have filed charge sheets in the case.
Before the senior leader’s arrest, the ED had arrested his nephew Sameer. According to allegations in the case, which is being jointly investigated by the ED and the state anti-corruption bureau, the contract for redevelopment of the state guesthouse in New Delhi, Maharashtra Sadan, was not advertised and the contractor gave the sub-contract to companies owned by the Bhujbal family.
A private developer was allowed to carry out the makeover of the Sadan and the Andheri RTO in lieu for FSI for a slum rehabilitation project in Andheri. In the Kalina deal, Bhujbal and five others have been accused of allegedly causing huge losses to the state exchequer by illegally leasing a prime plot at Kalina in Santacruz (East) to a private developer.