Mahajan to be operated tomorrow

Mumbai, Apr 23 (UNI) Indian and British doctors have decided to operate tomorrow on BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan whose condition continues to be '' critical'' today, a day after he was operated upon for grevious gunshot injuries in Hinduja hospital here.

Hospital spokesperson Dr Anupam Verma told media persons this evening that it has been decided '' to operate to remove packs from his body which were put to contain bleeding from liver.'' The decision, reached after extensive consultation between the British team of doctors led by Dr Mohammad Rele and our team headed by Dr Gustad B Daver is, however, subject to last minute change depending on Mahajan's condition tomorrow morning,'' he added.

Dr Verma, Director(administration) of Hinduja hospital, however, declined to comment on the state of three bullets still embedded in the body of the 56-year-old Mahajan.

Pravin, the 45-year-old brother of Mahajan, who had pumped in three bullets point blank at the Worli residence of the BJP leader yesterday morning, was remanded to police custody by a local court till April 29. Pravin's lawyer, while not opposing the prosecution remand application, however, urged the court not to take congnizance of Pravin's purported confessional statement before police because '' he is mentally ill and requires psychiatric treatment.'' Pravin, after allegedly committing the crime, had given himself up to Worli police and also handed over his licensed .32 mm calibre Belgian Browning pistol with which he fired four bullets, one of which missed.

Sarangi, wife of the accused, too, has told police her husband has not been in good mental health for last one year and would pick up a fight at a slightest provocation which has been causing a lot of trouble and anxiety to their family.

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