Now Reading: Bombay High Court grants medical bail to businessman Ushik Gala
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Bombay High Court grants medical bail to businessman Ushik Gala
The Bombay High Court on August 24 granted medical bail to businessman Ushik Gala, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on November 18, 2025, in a money laundering case linked to the Haryana…
The Bombay High Court on August 24 granted medical bail to businessman Ushik Gala, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on November 18, 2025, in a money laundering case linked to the Haryana government's 'Need to Feed' scheme. Justice Milind Jadhav noted Gala's three surgeries in under four years, including gall bladder removal and hernia surgery, and held that prison care was inadequate for his post-operative rehabilitation needs.
Gala, a director of Suumaya Industries, was ordered to furnish a Rs 2 lakh personal bond and sureties, surrender his passport, and cooperate with the investigation. The court rejected the ED's argument that his condition was not life-threatening, stating there is a qualitative difference between treatment as an undertrial prisoner and as a free citizen. His doctors must submit reports on his condition within 15 days.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case stems from the Haryana government's 'Need to Feed' scheme, a food subsidy programme for the poor. Money laundering allegations under the PMLA carry stringent bail norms: Section 45 requires courts to hear the public prosecutor and be satisfied that the accused is not likely to commit an offence on bail. Medical bail under the 'sick or infirm' exception in Section 45(1) has been sparingly granted, with courts generally requiring evidence that prison medical facilities are inadequate for the specific condition. The ED's opposition signals it may challenge this order before the Supreme Court. The next procedural milestone is the 15-day medical report from Gala's doctors, which will determine whether bail continues.
Source: freepressjournal.in
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
