Chadha's aillments can be treated at AIIMS -- Panel

Chadha's aillments can be treated at AIIMS -- Panel
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MAY 15: A panel of All India Institute of Medical Sciences'(AIIMS) doctors has told a Delhi court that the institute has all medical facilities to treat the ailments of Win Chadha, a key accused in the Rs 64-crore Bofors payoff case.

"Diagnostic and treatment facilities for all ailments from which Chadha is suffering are available at AIIMS," the eight-member panel headed by Dr S C Manchanda said in its report submitted before Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke.

The court had ordered constitution of a medical board on April 30 and directed Chadha to undergo tests before the board at AIIMS after he (Chadha) sought leave to return to Dubai for treatment.

The panel could conduct only a few tests as Chadha declined to undergo detailed physical examination due to reported exhaustion.

The court adjourned the matter till May 18 after Chadha's counsel Ritu Singh Maan sought time to file more documents in support of her client's plea for return to Dubai.

Chadha, accused of receiving a part of the bribe money in the Bofors Howitzer deal, had in his application submitted that he was suffering from various ailments like hypertension, diabetes and heart disease and should be allowed to go back to Dubai for his treatment by his regular consultants.

He had also sought return of his passport and exemption from personal appearance. But CBI had opposed his application saying he should not be allowed to go back to Dubai as he did not come to the court on his own.

The Dubai-based NRI, who was granted bail by the court on March 21 on furnishing a bail bond of Rs two lakh and a surety of the like amount, had come here on March 18 to face trial in the case after eluding arrest for about 12 years.

CBI had alleged that the Bofors company had paid a huge amount of bribe to middlemen and public servants to clinch the deal worth Rs. 1437 crore, for the supply of 400-155 mm Howitzer field guns in March 1986, despite its undertaking that no middleman would be engaged for the purpose.

After filing of the chargesheet by CBI on October 22 lastyear, so far only Chadha and former Defence Secretary S K Bhatnagar, also on bail, have appeared before the court to face trial.

The other accused yet to appear before the court are Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, currently in Kuala Lumpur, and former Bofors company Chief Martin Ardbo. The company itself has been arraigned as an accused in the case.