Shocked to receive such high hospital bills from an undertrial MLA, the state legislature had asked the home department for a detailed explanation.
In a blow to "jailed" Shiv Sena MLA and former housing minister Sureshdada Jain, the home department has turned down his request for payment of medical bills running into Rs26 lakh. Not just this, the strongly worded reply sent by home department to the committee that approves medical expenses of MLAs stated that "no government department" is liable to pay these bills as court has categorically directed the ailing MLA to bear his expenses if he wants to be treated in a private hospital. The court had even specified that the expenses of constables who will be stationed with him in the hospital to keep a watch on him will also be the MLA's responsibility.
Shocked to receive such high hospital bills from an undertrial MLA, the state legislature had asked the home department for a detailed explanation. The legislature wanted the department to clarify if Jain, who is currently in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in a multi-crore housing scam, was allowed to spend four to five months in "top private hospitals" including Breach Candy and Jaslok.
The reply dated March 14, 2016, claims that Jain was under treatment at Jaslok hospital from July 2012 to November 2012. It is stated that Jain, during transit between jail and court, complained of chest pain and asked the policemen to take him to the nearest hospital, which, in this case, happened to be Jaslok hospital on Pedder Road. However, as per government rules, he should have been taken to a state-run hospital. The reply also clarified that the home department never allowed Jain to take treatment in a private hospital, following which he approached the court.
The bill, however, has now been pending for a few months. Sources claimed that Jain refused treatment in the government hospital where he was admitted several times and opted for a top South Mumbai hospital to undergo open-heart surgery.
"As per the law, an MLA can claim whatever amount against medical reimbursement which has been sanctioned by a civil hospital. Jain has submitted proof of a civil hospital with his claim, but this being the case of a jail inmate, we wanted the department to clear the air," said a senior officer.
This, however, is not the first controversy around Jain's medical adventures. In November 2013, he was sent back to the Jalgaon prison after a sting operation by a private TV channel showed the arrested former minister roaming around the premises of Mumbai's St George Hospital.
Jain has been living in some hospital or the other since March 19, 2012, a week after he was arrested in connection with a housing scam in Jalgaon.
The doctors had certified that he was a heart patient and needed constant medical attention. The medical education department allowed him to stay in the hospital's air-conditioned VIP nursing room. However, soon after the sting operation, he was declared fit and sent back to the jail.
In June 2014, he was again in the news for defying court orders of taking treatment in a government hospital and was found resting in a VVIP hospital suite.
Jain is being tried in a Dhule sessions court for his role in the Rs50 crore Jalgaon housing scam. Ever since his arrest, he has spent barely a couple of months behind bars. The rest of the time, he has moved from one hospital's VVIP suite to another, including his plush air-conditioned room at St George's suite, to which his family, friends and political associates have free access.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Sureshdada")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}