2G case: Hearing on Karim Morani's bail plea deferred

The hearing on the bail plea of Bollywood film producer Karim Morani, arrested in the 2G scam, was deferred today by the Delhi High Court to July 5, pending submission of report on his health condition by a hospital.

Justice Ajit Bharihoke posted the hearing on Cineyug Films Private Limited Director Morani's plea seeking interim bail on his health ground after he was informed by G B Pant Hospital authorities said that his MRI report is awaited for a final opinion and advice from a neurosurgeon.

Submitting a partial status report on 52-year-old film producer's health condition, the hospital told the court that Morani was admitted there on June 23 for a comprehensive evaluation of an episode involving loss of consciousness in the jail and was discharged the next day.

Denying that Morani has been suffering from any serious ailment, the medical report said, "A detail history did not reveal any specific cause for his symptoms, while his physical examination revealed regular pulse rate, normal blood pressure with no postural fall and no other significant abnormality of cardiovascular system.

"His routine biochemical investigation are essentially normal. His ECG did not show any arrhythmia," it said.

The medical reported quoted Morani as telling doctors at hospital that "he fell during the episode (of loss of consciousness) and even sustained injuries in his head and hip. He has also been complaining of dizziness and unsteadiness."

The report said there is "no history of recent chest pain or sudden breathlessness".

On June 23, the High Court had directed Tihar Jail authorities to submit fresh medical report on Morani, who had move the court seeking interim bail on health grounds. He had moved the court for interim bail after withdrawing his plea for regular bail, saying he would seek regular bail at an appropriate stage.

The court, meanwhile, has asked Tihar Jail officials to ensure proper medical care for Morani.

Morani was chargesheeted by the CBI in 2G spectrum allocation scam, in which DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's daughter and party MP Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minitser A Raja were arrested, after his firm was found involved in routing Rs 214 crore to DMK-run Kalaignar TV allegedly as bribe for her.

A special CBI court ordered arrest of Morani after dismissing his bail plea on May 30.

His counsel Siddharth Luthra had said Morani has been suffering from various ailments for the last 31 years and had undergone angioplasty in 1991, 1993 and 1997 and an open heart surgery in 2007.

"Morani had received a sixth bypass graft and required reboring of his two major vessels. He had also been advised complete rest due to chest pain," Luthra had said.

"My client company is a big name in the field of music and entertainment. He has done a perfectly legal commercial transaction," he had said.