Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, accused in a purported Rs 538 crore fraud at state-run Canara Bank, has filed a bail application before a special court in Mumbai.
The 74-year-old businessman, currently held at Arthur Road Jail in central Mumbai, cited various health issues, including heart conditions, prostate problems, orthopedic issues, and more, in his plea seeking relief. Goyal claimed that there are reasonable grounds to believe he is “not guilty” of the alleged fraud.
In the plea filed before Special PMLA court Judge M G Deshpande, Goyal asserted that the investigation was conducted with the sole intention of projecting false allegations of fund siphoning for personal benefits. The plea argues that the Enforcement Directorate’s actions were mala fide, intending to create a negative image of Goyal.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Goyal on September 1 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following an extensive interrogation.
The money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Jet Airways, Goyal, his wife Anita, and some former executives of the now-defunct private carrier. The FIR, based on a complaint from the government-run Canara Bank, alleged that the bank had sanctioned credit limits and loans to Jet Airways amounting to Rs 848.86 crore, with Rs 538.62 crore outstanding.
