Former DHFL director Dheeraj Wadhawan has filed a bail plea application in a Delhi Court on medical grounds. His bail plea is scheduled for May 18, 2024.
The Rouse Avenue Court remanded Dheeraj Wadhawan to judicial custody until May 30 on Tuesday. He was presented before the court after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A regular bail application has also been submitted on behalf of Wadhawan, who is accused in a CBI case related to the DHFL multi-crore bank loan fraud case.
Special Judge A K Sarpal extended Wadhawan’s judicial custody until May 30, the same date as the hearing on the charge sheet. He will appear via video conferencing on the next date.
No Interim Bail
The Court rejected interim bail on medical grounds, although his regular bail plea is listed for May 18.
Meanwhile, the court instructed the jail authorities to house Wadhawan in a separate cell and provide him with one attendant around the clock.
It also directed that until the next hearing, Wadhawan should receive physiotherapy twice daily and have his cardiac condition checked three to four times daily at any nearby hospital. He will be provided with a wheelchair in jail and admitted to the jail hospital or DDU hospital in case of an emergency.
The jail superintendent has been instructed to submit a report on how and in what manner the necessary treatment will be provided to the accused in the future.
Special Public Prosecutor Anupam Sharma and Public Prosecutor Arvind Kumar opposed the request for interim bail for the accused for 12 weeks on medical grounds.
The trial court also instructed the accused’s counsel to inform whether the bail plea is pending before the High Court or has been withdrawn.
The Delhi High Court issued notice to the CBI on May 11 on a plea by Wadhawan seeking bail on medical grounds. He approached the High Court against the trial court’s order denying him bail on medical grounds.
He was receiving treatment at his home in Mumbai after being discharged from the hospital following spinal surgery.
Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the CBI and directed them to file a reply. The matter is set for hearing on May 17.
Advocate Anupam Sharma appeared for the CBI and accepted the notice.
Senior advocate N Hariharan appeared physically, and Senior advocate Amit Desai appeared from Mumbai via video conferencing for accused Dheeraj Wadhawan.
Previous Hearing
The Rouse Avenue court’s Special judge A K Sarpal dismissed his bail application on May 10 on the grounds of maintainability. The court also deemed the bail application premature.
The court directed the CBI to arrest him after May 11 and to present him before the CBI court as per the Supreme Court’s directive issued on January 24.
While rejecting the bail application, the CBI Court at Rouse Avenue stated that the accused is free to file a fresh bail application after being arrested and coming into the custody of this court. At that time, his request for interim bail on medical grounds or regular bail, if submitted, will be considered.
The trial court also noted that at this stage, compliance with the Supreme Court‘s order of January 24, 2024, to take the accused into physical custody must be ensured.
Previously, he was granted protection by the Bombay High Court until May 11 on medical grounds.
The FIR in the case was based on a complaint filed by Union Bank of India.
