BOMBAY, 30 April 2006 — BJP leader Pramod Mahajan underwent surgery for the third time yesterday in Bombay’s Hinduja Hospital since he was admitted there after being shot by his younger brother Pravin a week ago.
According to the medical bulletin read out by hospital spokesman Dr. Anupam Varma, the operation was a planned procedure and was successful. It was a “tracheotomy operation” to improve his breathing. Varma said Mahajan will have to undergo many such operations in the future.
Dr. Muhammed Rela, one of the doctors attending on Mahajan, said he had not advised liver transplantation for the BJP leader, nor was it considered an option. His present liver condition may recover through medication, he said.
Mahajan’s son, Rahul, ruled out the possibility of his father being flown abroad for treatment. Rahul said his family had no plan to shift Mahajan from Hinduja Hospital as they were satisfied with his treatment there.
Yesterday, the police custody of Pravin Mahajan was extended until May 3 for further investigations. Pravin was produced in a court here amid heavy security. The court had earlier sent him to police custody until yesterday.
Urging the court to extend the remand, the prosecution argued that many aspects of the shooting, which shocked the country, were yet to be probed. The prosecution claimed that Pravin, a builder in the neighboring Thane district, had made up his mind to kill his brother quite sometime back.
In his statement to the police, Pravin, 46, has said he was not treated well by his “‘high-profile” brother. The accused said he was often humiliated by Pramod.
Pravin’s lawyer maintains his client has been suffering from some mental disorder for some months and that relations between the two brothers has been cordial.
Pravin, who is married and has two teenaged children, walked into Pramod’s residence in central Bombay last Saturday and opened fire at his brother after the latter allegedly ignored him.
