ACB investigates how Telgi scam accused top cop is paying for treatment at Nanavati
The State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is investigating how Telgi scam accused former joint commissioner of police Sridhar Wagal has paid at least Rs 22 lakh so far to the Dr Balabhai Nanavati Hospital for medical expenses during the two years he’s been there, though he’s under suspension since his arrest under MCOCA in 2003.
Wagal, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court today and was in judicial custody all this time, still gets 75 per cent of his salary, which the ACB says is not adequate to clear his medical bills and therefore wants to know his source of income.
According to ACB officials, Wagal’s daily expenses in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of Nanavati Hospital ranges from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, including the bed, nursing and medicine charges. The ACB is planning to seek an explanation from Wagal after taking permission from the MCOCA court, said an officer.
Additional Commissioner of Police, ACB (Mumbai unit), Dr Pradnya Saravade said: “This matter is still under investigation. We cannot part with any information at this stage.”
Wagal is presently in room number 308 in the special ward on the third floor of Nanavati hospital floor. His room is air-conditioned and has a TV set. When this correspondent tried to meet him, V G Khamkar — one of the two constables of the Worli local arms division who are posted outside — said that Wagal’s relative was with him and that he didn’t want to be disturbed. Later, when contacted on telephone, Wagal said: “I don’t want to say anything. I cannot talk to the media.”
Wagal got himself admitted to the hospital on January 25, 2005 after he was diagnosed with carotid artery blockage. On January 23, this year, the hospital’s consulting neuro-surgeon, Dr V R Parikh, wrote to the special MCOCA court in Pune — trying the multi-crore fake stamp paper case — saying Wagal’s condition is stable and “he does not need active medical/ surgical treatment and has been on regular medicines. He can be treated at any place under regular medical supervision”.
Dr Parikh, who’s been supervising Wagal’s treatment, also said Wagal “at times gets attacks of giddiness for which he needs medical attention”. When contacted, Dr Parikh refused to comment on the letter.
Since his admission in Nanavati hospital, Wagal has not appeared in court. Instead, he has presented himself through video-conferencing during the hearings on some occasions. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been opposing Wagal’s stay at Nanavati hospital and has told the special court that if he wants to avail the services of the same doctor who is treating him, he can be shifted to Arthur Road Central Jail and not return to Yerwada Central jail in Pune where he was first lodged after his arrest .
The state’s Special Investigating Team (SIT) had arrested Wagal, who was then heading the Mumbai Police Crime Branch, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 70 lakh from prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi. Wagal was booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Wagal gets bail
MUMBAI: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Mumbai Police joint commissioner Sridhar Wagal, an accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran set aside the order of the Bombay High Court rejecting his bail and directed the Special Court in Pune to release him on bail on furnishing a security of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of like amount.
The bench while granting bail to Wagal considered that he was in judicial custody for more than three years, which is the maximum period of punishment that could be imposed under Section 24 (rendering help or support in the commission of a crime) of the MCOCA.
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