2 Ggn doctors fined ₹70 lakh each for helping murder convict

down heavily on two doctors from Gurgaon who helped a former lawmaker – a murder convict – to evade jail despite cancellation of his bail, the Supreme Court on Tuesday imposed a fine of ₹70 lakh each on them.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra ordered Dr KS Sachdev and Dr Munish Prabhakar to deposit the money with the apex court’s registry by June end. The two had helped former Indian National Lok Dal MLA Balbir Singh alias Bali Pehalwan. Both tendered unconditional apology before the court.

The bench asked the registry to deposit the ₹1.40 crore in a fixed deposit and asked senior counsel VK Bali to suggest ways to utilize the money for providing medical facilities to the poor and underprivileged. It would hear the matter on July 6.

Complainant’s counsel Rishi Malhotra demanded cancellation of the hospital’s license. Malhotra argued providing “medical asylum” to accused politicians was a trend and for this harsh punishment should be handed down to the doctors and hospital. The court did not accept the contention.

On December 22, 2016 SC had held both guilty of contempt of court for helping Pehalwan who kept hoodwinking the authorities despite his bail having being cancelled by the top court.

A CBI probe had found that Pehalwan was admitted to the hospital on 47 occasions and was allowed to move out without any medical professional justifying such movement.

He never paid the hospital for his 527-day stay, the CBI probe revealed.

He did not undergo any laboratory test and there was no reason to keep him as an indoor patient, the CBI had told the top court, adding there was a regular stream of visitors during his stay in the hospital.

Pehalwan was accused of kidnapping and murdering one Vishnu -- a businessman from Rohtak in Haryana on May 6, 2011. The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail. However, on an application moved by the victim’s brother the top court cancelled the bail on October 24, 2013.

As per the order he had to surrender, but instead the two doctors sheltered him in a private hospital.