A Kolkata court granted bail to Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on Friday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of a resident doctor in August this year. The bail was granted after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to file a chargesheet within the 90-day period required by law.
Along with Dr. Ghosh, police officer Abhijit Mondal was also granted bail. While Mondal will be released, Dr. Ghosh will remain in custody for another case involving alleged financial irregularities at the medical college. Ghosh was arrested by the CBI on September 2, following a Calcutta High Court order on August 23 that directed the agency to probe allegations of financial misconduct and mishandling of key evidence in the rape case.
These investigations were prompted by a complaint from Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, who accused Dr. Ghosh of committing serious illegalities during his tenure as Principal. Ghosh challenged the High Court’s directive in the Supreme Court, but his petition was dismissed on September 6.
The rape and murder incident sparked nationwide outrage, and Dr. Ghosh faced significant public criticism, especially after being accused of victim-blaming. In the wake of the incident, Ghosh resigned from his post, but he was quickly appointed as the Principal of another college. This decision led to strong protests, and the Calcutta High Court expressed disapproval, questioning the state’s decision to promote Ghosh shortly after his resignation.
