Pune: Real estate developer DS Kulkarni, who along with his wife was remanded to seven days’ police custody on Saturday, collapsed in the lock-up at Faraskhana police station around midnight.
Kulkarni was rushed to Sassoon General Hospital. On Sunday, his lawyers moved an application before the Special Judge seeking better medical treatment at a private hospital, which the court allowed. He was then moved to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.
After the couple’s interim protection arrest was vacated by the Mumbai High Court, a team from the Pune police Crime Branch nabbed them at a hotel in Delhi and brought them to Pune on Saturday evening. Later, he was produced before the Court of Special Judge JT Utpat who remanded them in police custody till February 23.
Kulkarni and others have been accused of duping 4,300 people to the tune of Rs 325 crore. The police said that Kulkarni complained of uneasiness to the police personnel at the lock-up and while talking to them he collapsed.
The police personnel caught hold of him and rushed him to the hospital around midnight.
“He was brought in an unconscious state. Our team conducted various tests including a CT scan and the results were normal. We believe it to be a case of metabolical encephalopathy. It could be because of his past ailments like diabetes and other issues. His condition is stable now,” said Dr Ajay Taware, Medical Superintendent of the Sassoon Hospital.
‘No super-specialist at Sassoon Hospital’
On Sunday afternoon, Kulkarni’s lawyers filed an application before the court and requested his transfer to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital citing unavailability of ‘super-specialist in neurology’ at Sassoon Hospital. “At present, there is no super-specialist available at Sassoon Hospital and being a government hospital, it is difficult to get an expert opinion as doctors from outside are not allowed to treat patients there.
Kulkarni was earlier admitted to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital after his accident and the doctors there are well aware of his medical history. There are instances in the past where the prisoners died due to lack of emergency medical treatment,” the application states.
His lawyer argued that the next 24 hours are vital for him. “His family physician Dr Charu Apte has advised that he be shifted to Deenanath Hospital.”
‘All reports are normal’
Special Public Prosecutor Praveen Chavan opposed the application on the grounds that his reports were normal. “If his condition becomes critical, the Dean of Sassoon Hospital be directed to shift him to appropriate hospital,” Chavan submitted.
Medical treatment is priority: Court
The court said priority must be given to medical treatment and converted Kulkarni’s police custody to judicial custody. “The investigating officer (IO) is directed to shift the patient/accused Kulkarni to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital immediately today (Sunday) for further medical treatment at the cost of accused.
The IO is further directed to take the accused for medical examination before the medical board of Sassoon Hospital at 8 am on February 20. The board shall submit a report about his examination to this court. The advocates of accused shall also produce his medical reports of the Deenanath Hospital,” the judge stated in his order.
