Chandigarh court denies interim bail to accused in Rs 30 crore ‘fake' ITC scam, cites adequate medical care in jail

Indian Express

2 days ago

The District Court of Chandigarh has dismissed the plea of an accused in alleged Rs 30-crore fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) scam, seeking interim bail for two weeks.
The accused, Manmohan Singh, was arrested by Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Chandigarh Zonal Unit, which claimed to have unearthed a major fake ITC racket involving bogus invoices and non-existent supplies. According to reports, accused Manmohan not only floated these bogus entities, but also orchestrated the issuance of fake invoices to generate and avail ineligible ITC. He is also alleged to have coordinated banking transactions and cash movements in exchange for commissions, in collusion with other individuals who are now under the scanner.
Since lodged in Model Jail, Burail, the accused sought an interim bail for two weeks, claiming he is suffering from high blood pressure (BP) and paralytic stroke.
The counsel for Manmohan Singh submitted that on June 8, while in judicial custody, he suffered a brain stroke resulting in paralysis on the right side of his body. He was taken by the Burail Jail authorities to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh where he received emergency medical treatment. After administering initial treatment, the attending doctors prepared a detailed plan for the applicant's continued care and recovery, which include several diagnostic tests, ongoing treatment, regular medication and constant personal assistance, as he is presently bedridden and unable to walk or even sit up without support.
His counsel further submitted that he being a paralysis patient, requires intensive medical attention, continuous monitoring and constant personal care, which cannot be adequately provided within the jail premises.
The state counsel, however, submitted that there is no report of any doctor that would suggest that the treatment and follow up required to be administered to the applicant cannot be provided to him by or under the supervision of the jail authorities, and that Model Jail Medical Dispensary has a qualified medical officer providing regular care with daily monitoring of vital parameters, immediate referral system to GMCH-32, and adequate stock of prescribed medications.
Following hearing all the arguments, the court held that the record shows that timely medical assistance and treatment has been provided to the applicant and he has been referred to Emergency OPD, GMCH-32, Chandigarh.
'If the applicant is not satisfied with the treatment.. then he can himself or through his family members or through DLSA request the jail authorities in writing to take him to any private hospital of his choice in Mohali or Chandigarh for his medical treatment. If the applicant moves such an application, the jail authorities are directed to take him to the private hospital of his choice in custody and do the needful as per jail manual,' the court said.
The court, meanwhile, clarified that all the expenses of the private hospital will be borne by the accused on his own.