Former education minister Partha Chatterjee was flown to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar from SSKM Hospital in Kolkata early on Monday where doctors said he did not need immediate hospitalisation.
The medical board formed at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar conducted several tests on Monday and recommended: “After detail history taking, clinical evaluation and relevant investigations the committee is of the opinion that Partha Chaterjee has been suffering from multiple chronic illness for a long time. Whatever presenting complaints that he is having currently are attributed to his chronic illness and no active intervention is required at present. However, he is advised to continue treatment for his chronic illness and requires periodic evaluation and optimization of treatment.”
Partha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday. He had complained of respiratory distress and was admitted to SSKM.
His medical report from Bhubaneswar was submitted before Bankshall Court on Monday, following which the hearing for his bail application started after 4.30pm, said ED sources.
Late at night, the court remanded Chatterjee in ED’s custody till August 3.
ED’s lawyers had demanded 14 days’ custody for the minister while his defence counsel said the ED has already kept him in their custody from July 22 to July 24. “What is my client’s fault if money is found in one of his subordinate or associate’s house? Where is the link?” his lawyer said.
Chatterjee will stay at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar on Monday night. “All arrangements have been made. He will leave for Kolkata on Tuesday morning,” AIIMS sources said.
ED officials said they had made arrangements for his custody at the CGO Complex in Kolkata.
On Monday morning, Chatterjee was flown in an air ambulance from Kolkata to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where a four-member team of doctors from cardiology, nephrology, and medicine and endocrinology departments attended to him, in keeping with directives of the Calcutta High Court.
Around 5pm, doctors said Chatterjee did not require hospitalisation.
“We investigated and have submitted our report to the honourable high court. There was not much chest pain. He is in a stable condition. Whatever he has is because of chronic illness. Nothing of serious nature at this moment to intervene,” said Ashutosh Biswas, executive director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. “He has been advised for discharge today.”
Soon after the team of doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar concluded that the minister did not require hospitalisation, lawyers representing ED appeared at Bankshall Court in Kolkata and pressed for his custody for 14 days.
Earlier in the day around 6.30am, Chatterjee was taken out of the cardiology department of SSKM and shifted to an ambulance to ferry him to the airport.
Chatterjee was seen placing his hand on his chest with his head titled as he was brought to the ambulance at SSKM Hospital.
When the hospital staff offered to lift him on a stretcher into the ambulance, the former education minister objected and instead chose to walk up to the ambulance. He was accompanied by one of his lawyers, ED officials and a doctor from SSKM Hospital’s cardiology department.
A six-member team of doctors at SSKM Hospital had on Saturday had concluded that Chatterjee required hospitalisation.
On Monday, doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar refused to comment about the findings of their counterparts in West Bengal.