Trustees not evading investigation: Lilavati

The Multi-speciality Lilavati hospital, which was raided by Income Tax recently, on Thursday described as "incorrect" reports appearing in a section of the media that its trustees Prabodh Mehta, Rashmi Mehta, Chetan Mehta and Bhavin Mehta had fled the country despite summons from the investigating agency.

The Multi-speciality Lilavati hospital, which was raided by Income Tax recently, on Thursday described as "incorrect" reports appearing in a section of the media that its trustees Prabodh Mehta, Rashmi Mehta, Chetan Mehta and Bhavin Mehta had fled the country despite summons from the investigating agency.

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The IT had raided the hospital and certain premises in the city in the wake of Supreme Court issuing notices to various investigating agencies and the Centre to investigate alleged money laundering by the trustees.

"All the four trustees are Non Resident Indians and are not evading any investigating agency in India," Dr Sudhir Dagaonkar, Director Administration and official spokesman of the hospital, said in a statement in Mumbai.

None of the departments of the Government, including Income tax, have issued summons to Prabodh, Rashmi, Chetan and Bhavin.

Also, there is no bar on these four trustees from leaving India or staying out of India. Prabodh resides in Dubai while Rashmi, Bhavin and Chetan reside in Antwerp, Belgium along with their respective families, the hospital spokesman said.

They are in diamond business and have worldwide operations in India, Belgium and Middle East. For these reasons, it is normal and usual for them to travel frequently in and out of India, Dr Dagaonkar said.