SC seeks CBI reply on ex-RG Kar principal’s bail plea

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the CBI on a bail application filed by Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R G Kar Hospital, who is accused of financial irregularities and corruption in hospital procurements. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale sought the agency's response by October 15, the next date of hearing. Ghosh approached the top court after the Calcutta High Court dismissed his bail plea. He has been in jail for nearly two years since his arrest.

Ghosh's lawyers argued that the investigation is complete and continued incarceration serves no investigative purpose. The prosecution has cited 147 witnesses and 622 documents, making the trial likely to take considerable time. The defence also noted that no money trail or unaccounted wealth has been traced to Ghosh, and that the supplementary charge-sheet attributes alleged gratification from vendors to a co-accused. His legal team pointed to parity, noting that co-accused Shashikant Chandak was never arrested and was granted bail.