19 Months After Arrest, Ex-Dean Of COVID-19 Jumbo Centre Gets Bail From Bombay High Court

Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to Dr. Kishore Bisure, former dean of a COVID-19 Jumbo Centre in Mumbai’s Dahisar area, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2023 for alleged financial irregularities during the pandemic.

Bisure was accused of accepting valuable items in exchange for approving fraudulent attendance records at the Mumbai civic body-run medical facility. He was arrested on July 19, 2023, and had remained in custody since.

A single-judge bench of Justice Milind N. Jadhav noted that there had been no substantial progress in the trial, with charges yet to be framed. The court also highlighted a prima facie delay in filing the complaint. With 82 witnesses listed for examination, the court found it unlikely that the trial would conclude anytime soon. Given these circumstances, Bisure was granted bail on a surety of ₹1 lakh.

Case Background and ED Investigation

The ED alleges that between July 2020 and February 2022, irregularities in the operation of two COVID-19 centres in Dahisar and Worli, run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), led to a wrongful gain of ₹32.44 crore for Lifeline Hospital Management Services, the private entity contracted to provide medical services.

The investigation was initiated following an FIR filed by former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya in August 2022, which alleged misappropriation of pandemic-related funds. However, the ED formally registered its case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) three months later, in November 2022. The High Court noted this delay as a significant factor in granting bail.

Bisure’s Defense and Court Observations

In his bail plea, Bisure contended that he served as dean for only five months, from July 9, 2020, to December 27, 2020, and had no involvement in the centre’s operations beyond this period. He also argued that no other deans of similar COVID-19 centres had been arrested, accusing the ED of a “pick and choose” strategy in targeting him.

Considering the procedural delays and lack of progress in the trial, the High Court granted bail, raising questions about selective prosecution and delayed legal proceedings in the case.