RG Kar Case: Ex-principal Sandip Ghosh moves bail plea at Calcutta HC

Kolkata: The former and controversial Principal of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, filed a bail petition on Monday before a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court.

The petition was admitted by Justice Subhendu Samanta, with the possibility of a hearing taking place in the second half of Monday.

CBI investigates financial irregularities and serious criminal charges

Ghosh is facing parallel investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The first case concerns alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College, while the second involves the horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor from the same hospital this past August. 

Allegations of misleading investigation

In the rape and murder case, Ghosh is accused of misleading the investigation and tampering with evidence during the initial inquiry, which was conducted by Kolkata Police before the Calcutta High Court transferred it to the CBI. The former SHO of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal, is also under investigation for similar charges and is currently in judicial custody.

Previous plea for fast-track hearing rejected

Earlier, Ghosh sought a fast-track hearing in the Calcutta High Court to gain permission to liquidate his fixed deposit to cover his legal expenses. However, the court rejected his request for expedited consideration. This matter is expected to be discussed again in the second half of Monday’s session.

Junior doctors’ front highlights financial mismanagement

Recently, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), which is leading the protest against the rape and murder case, submitted crucial documents revealing how the state health department overlooked previous complaints regarding financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital during Ghosh's tenure. 

Evidence of misappropriation and negligence

The submitted documents, totaling 137 pages, detail instances of fund misappropriation under Ghosh’s administration and illustrate how complaints from whistle-blowers were ignored by the state health department, according to a WBJDF representative.