Virus: HC rejects bail of PNB scam accused who tested positive

Mumbai, May 8 () The Bombay High Court on Fridayrejected temporary bail to Hemant Bhatt, an accused in themulti-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, after noting thatthe 66-year-old has tested positive for novel coronavirus atArthur Road jail in central Mumbai.

Justice Bharati Dangre rejected Bhatt's plea after theprosecution told the court that a COVID-19 patient cannot beallowed to be freed on temporary bail.

The court said jail authorities shall provide allmedical facilities to Bhatt.

Bhatt had, last month, approached HC seeking temporarybail on the ground that he is a senior citizen with chronicheart ailment and, hence, there was a risk of being infectedwith coronavirus.

The court had on May 6, while hearing Bhatt'sapplication, directed the police to inform the court about thesituation at Arthur Road prison.

Additional public prosecutor Shahaji Shinde, onFriday, informed the court that a number of inmates at ArthurRoad prison and some staff members had tested positive forcoronavirus, and Bhatt was one of them.

Bhatt, an authorised signatory in diamond businessmanand fugitive economic offender Nirav Modi's company, has beenbooked by CBI on charges of cheating and fraud in connectionwith the PNB scam.

He is also facing money laundering charges initiatedby Enforcement Directorate. SPBNM BNM