Bombay HC grants interim bail to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal on medical grounds

Naresh Goyal at the court. Pic/Atul Kamble

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted interim bail to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, for two months on medical grounds, reported news agency ANI.

The high court ordered Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal to pay a surety of Rs 1 lakh and has asked him to remain within the jurisdiction of the PMLA Court i.e. Greater Mumbai, and not to leave the area without prior permission of the PMLA Court.

"The Applicant - Naresh Goyal be released on bail, for a period of two months, on furnishing a P.R. bond in the sum of Rs 1 Lakh and one or two sureties in the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Judge, PMLA, Court Mumbai," the high court said, reported ANI.

"The applicant shall furnish his contact details and mobile number. The Applicant shall not, either himself or through any other person, tamper with the prosecution evidence and give threats or inducement to any of the prosecution witnesses. Applicant shall not try to establish communication with the co-accused or any other person involved directly or indirectly in similar activities, through any mode of communication. In the event the Applicant violates any of the aforesaid conditions, the relief of bail granted by this Court shall be liable to be cancelled," the court said, reported ANI.

Naresh Goyal, 75, had approached the high court, seeking bail on the ground that he and his wife Anita Goyal, are battling cancer.

A single bench of Justice N J Jamadar in its order said that Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal can be released on bail for a limited period to avail the treatment for the cancer he is suffering from and attend to his wife, who is also suffering from cancer of an advanced grade.

"Prima facie, the applicant has roots in society. The possibility of fleeing away from justice and tampering with evidence seems remote. In any event, the apprehension on the part of the prosecution regarding tampering with evidence and fleeing away from justice, can be taken care of by imposing stringent conditions," the high court said, reported ANI.

ED arrested Naresh Goyal on 1 September 2023 and since then he has been in Judicial Custody.

ED has filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court (PMLA) Mumbai on October 31, 2023.

Last year in September, ED provisionally attached properties worth Rs 538.05 crore of Jet Airways (India) Limited (JIL) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), reported ANI.

The attached properties include 17 residential flats, bungalows and commercial premises. Located in London, Dubai and various cities in India, these properties are in the name of various companies like Jetair Private Limited and Jet Enterprises Private Limited, Naresh Goyal, his wife Anita, and son Nivaan, reported ANI.

The complaint alleged various offences, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and criminal misconduct, committed by M/s JIL and its promoters and directors, resulting in a significant Non-Performing Asset (NPA) amounting to Rs 538.62 crore.

(With inputs from ANI)