Anita Goyal, the wife of Naresh Goyal, the founder of Jet Airways, has passed away in Mumbai after a battle with cancer. Naresh Goyal, who had recently received interim bail from the Bombay High Court, was by her side. According to media reports, Anita Goyal's funeral is scheduled for later on Thursday in Mumbai.
On May 6, the Bombay High Court granted Naresh Goyal interim bail for a two-month period due to medical and humanitarian reasons. The court specified that Goyal must furnish a surety of Rs 1 lakh and cannot leave Mumbai without prior approval from the trial court. Additionally, the court ordered him to surrender his passport. This relief follows a previous denial of bail by a special court in February, although Goyal was permitted to seek medical treatment at a private hospital.
Goyal subsequently appealed to the high court, citing deteriorating physical and mental health. His advocate, Harish Salve, emphasised humanitarian grounds in the plea. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), represented by Hiten Venegaonkar, opposed the bail request, suggesting an extension of Goyal's hospitalisation and a fresh medical evaluation.
In September 2023, Naresh Goyal was arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case involving allegations of diverting loans worth Rs 538.62 crore from Jet Airways to Canara Bank. Subsequently, in November 2023, his wife Anita Goyal was also arrested following the submission of the ED's chargesheet. However, she was granted bail by a special court on the same day, considering her age and health condition.