Sandip Ghosh, ex-Tala OC get bail as CBI fails to submit chargesheet on time

Kolkata: With the CBI failing to submit chargesheet within 90 days in the rape and murder case, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh and former officer in-charge (OC) of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal were granted bail on Friday by the Sealdah Court. The duo were arrested by the CBI for alleged conspiracy to cover up the crime.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front opposed the bail of Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal and also raised questions on the role of the CBI in the investigation.

Dr Aniket Mahato, a member of the front told the reporters: “The CBI failed to file chargesheet even though 90 days have lapsed since the RG Kar incident occurred. Hence the two accused got bail. Why the CBI failed to submit the chargesheet. They will have to take responsibility. They have not shown respect to the public sentiment.” The junior doctors front may announce its next agenda on Saturday.

Heartbroken over the decision, the parents of the doctor said that it seemed like the “system” was failing them. “Every day, we wonder if this will be another case in which the powerful escape without punishment,” said the mother of the victim.

The bail was granted by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Sealdah Court. However, Ghosh will not be released as he was also arrested in the alleged corruption in the RG Kar Hospital while Mondal will be released once the order copy reaches the correctional home.On the intervening night of August 9 and August 10, a PGT doctor of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was brutally raped and murdered. Kolkata Police had arrested the prime accused civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy within 24 hours of the crime committed. However, on August 13, the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam ordered a CBI probe into the rape and murder case while hearing five petitions, including the one filed by the parents of the deceased PGT doctor.

Despite police after arresting Roy had claimed that he is the only person involved in the rape and murder, CBI did not rule out the involvement of other people. However, later CBI had also informed the court that they have not found involvement of any person other than Roy in the rape and murder of the PGT doctor.

After a couple of days, the Calcutta High Court Single Bench of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj ordered a CBI probe into the alleged financial irregularities of Ghosh during his tenure as principal while hearing a petition of former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, Akhtar Ali. After taking over the probe, CBI had summoned Ghosh multiple times before he was arrested on September 2 in connection with the probe of the alleged financial irregularities.

On September 14, Mondal was arrested by the CBI in connection with alleged tampering of evidences in the rape and murder case.

Ghosh was shown arrested. Since then both Ghosh and Mondal were in CBI custody and remained in judicial custody after completion of the Central agency custody period.