Chhagan Bhujbal’s test at private hospital today

Former deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal will undergo a medical test — Thallium Scan — at the privately-run Bombay Hospital on Wednesday.

A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had last week permitted the Arthur Road jail authorities to conduct the Thallium Scan on Bhujbal at a private hospital, at his cost, on the ground that the medical test could not be conducted at any government-run hospital in the city.

The prison authorities had clarified that the civic-run KEM Hospital, where a Thallium Scan can be done, is undergoing renovations and the medical examination could not be conducted there any time soon. Dr T.P. Lahane, who is the dean of the state –run J.J. Hospital, where Bhujbal was admitted on Friday night for the tests, had recommended three private hospitals — Lilavati, Jaslok and Bombay Hospital — for the conduct of three tests to find out the reason behind his cardiac ailments. After discussions with authorities of the Arthur Road prison, the decision to conduct the Thallium Scan at Bombay Hospital was taken on Tuesday. Bhujbal is in judicial custody. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March on PMLA charges.

Two other tests recommended by J.J. Hospital for Bhujbal, Electro-physiology evaluation and Holter test, were conducted there on Tuesday.

The Asian Age had on October 11 reported that Bhujbal could be shifted from J.J. Hospital to a private hospital for some tests. Dr Lahane said, “On Wednesday morning, Bhujbal would be shifted to Bombay Hospital for the Thallium Scan test from J.J. Hospital. Bhujbal needs to undergo the Holter examination and Electro- physiology evaluation as well, which were done on Tuesday, for which we got the machines from KEM hospital. Bhujbal was suffering from low pulse rate, hence the three tests are necessary to detect the actual cause of his heart ailments.” Hospital to jail, and back On April 18, Bhujbal was rushed to the state-run St. George Hospital. Admitted to the ICU after he initially complained of toothache, he was discharged on April 25. The case stirred a controversy after it emerged that he was supposed to visit the dental OPD for treatment for toothache but instead got admitted for high blood pressure, chest pain and fluctuating heart rate. On Sept. 17, Bhujbal was rushed to the state-run J.J. Hospital, for suspected dengue, chest pain and high blood pressure. After his condition improved, he was advised to carry further tests and discharged on Oct 12. On October 28, Bhujbal was again admitted to J.J for carrying out his prescribed tests. On Nov 2, Bhujbal will be moved to Bombay Hospital.