Rejecting the bail application of former chairman and managing director of UCO Bank, Subodh Kumar Goel, arrested in a bank loan fraud case of over Rs 6,200 crore, a sessions court in Kolkata on Wednesday extended his ED custody to May 26.
Goel, 74, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 16 for allegedly taking bribes and approving loan of Rs 6,210.72 crore to Concast Steel and Power Ltd. (CSPL).
Goel’s counsel moved the bail plea, citing Goel’s deteriorating health, including Parkinson’s disease and a rare hereditary condition.
“He (Goel) is wheelchair-bound, reliant on family members, has a history of falls, has Parkinson’s, diabetes, and is disoriented to time and place,” Goel’s counsel told the court.
Claiming that during the five days of ED custody, Goel developed oral fungal infections and his condition has worsened, his counsel said: “Due to his declining health, bail should be granted under any circumstances.”
Stating that Goel responded to the summons and “fully cooperated” with the central agency, his counsel on his behalf told the court: “On May 12, I informed authorities that I was undergoing treatment and needed time to recover. What changed suddenly? My family has fully cooperated. I need medical treatment and can remain in Kolkata. Keeping me in custody serves no purpose—grant me bail under any condition.”
Opposing the bail plea, the ED told the court that AIIMS and RML hospitals in Delhi have concluded that Goel was able to walk, followed verbal commands, and could continue oral and anti-Parkinson medication.”
Refuting claims of medical neglect, the ED submitted, “On May 17, the Salt Lake Subdivisional Hospital reported the patient was clinically stable. On May 18, after custody, no abnormalities were detected, including in his heart, though a cardiology consultation was advised.
“On May 19, the doctor noted that while the patient (Goel) claimed to have Parkinson’s, he was unable to provide proper medical history. Over the last four days, he managed basic tasks—eating, using the washroom, changing clothes—by himself. Only from May 19 did he claim he couldn’t walk and needed a wheelchair. Since he allegedly suffers from an incurable condition, further hospital treatment is not necessary, and the ground of infirmity does not arise,” the ED’s counsel told the court.
According to the ED, large credit facilities were sanctioned to CSPL by UCO Bank during the tenure of Subodh Kumar Goel as CMD of UCO Bank. The ED alleged that money was subsequently diverted and siphoned off by the CSPL with Goel receiving substantial illegal gratifications, including cash, immovable properties, luxury goods, hotel booking etc, from the CSPL.
Sureka’s bail hearing adjourned till June 2
Kolkata: A Kolkata court on Wednesday adjourned the bail hearing of Sanjay Sureka, the main promoter of CSPL, till June 2. Sureka was arrested by the ED in December 2024. A chargesheet was filed against him in February this year. The ED had attached assets worth Rs 510 crore belonging to Sureka and CSPL under the PMLA.
Sureka’s counsel has argued that after 156 days in custody and with no imminent commencement of trial, bail should be granted to his client. —ENS