Assault on AIG: accused sitting cool in hospital
Sunny Johar, once Majithia’s confidant, getting luxuries of room cooler, outside food in Patiala for a month now
PATIALA: No matter that he is accused of trying to kill a highlevel police officer. Maninder Singh “Sunny” Johar is enjoying top-level comfort in Rajindra Hospital here for now a month.
Violating all norms, the hospital has provided him with a private room cooler, apart from a choice of breakfast, lunch and dinner from outside; and there’s pressure on doctors to prolong his easy stay. Admitted to Ward 10 with complaint of “high blood pressure”, Johar is being tried for attempt to murder.
On December 24, 2012, Johar and his friends allegedly beat up assistant inspec- tor general (AIG) SS Mand of police intelligence in Ludhiana and broke his leg in Johar’s illegal hotel, The Hub. Mand is also Ludhiana’s former senior superintendent of police (vigilance); and Johar, before being thrown out of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), was a confidant of revenue minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia.
The hospital has kept information of its “VIP inmate” secret and not allowed media into his ward. The high court has issued directions against giving VIP treatment to anyone in hospital.
“Johar has come to us with hypertension and he is under medical observation because his blood pressure is fluctuating,” said a doctor, requesting anonymity and confirming that the team had directions to give him “proper care”.
Using his political influence, Johar had tried to take an airconditioned room that’s denied to all jail inmates except critically ill people in intensive care. After that, he installed the cooler in his ward.
“There is no intervention possible here and he should be referred back to the jail hospital or the PGI (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh). Otherwise, he will continue to stay here,” said a source in the hospital.
Medical superintendent Dr Vinod Sharda declined to speak with the press on the pretext that he did not have the authority, which had been shifted to his deputy, Dr Harshinder Kaur. Replying to queries, the latter said she would mark an inquiry into how the doctor concerned had allowed the fitting of air cooler in the ward. “A medical board will examine Johar to know the progress of his ailment and look at the possibility of discharge,” she added.