In a notable development on Tuesday, a special court in Kolkata rejected the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) request to conduct a virtual hearing for former RG Kar Medical College & Hospital Principal Sandip Ghosh.
The court insisted on Ghosh’s physical presence for the proceedings, scheduled to commence at 3 PM.
The CBI’s appeal for a virtual hearing stemmed from concerns over security, given the escalating public outrage following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the medical college.
As Ghosh’s current CBI custody term ends today, the agency argued that presenting him virtually would mitigate risks amid the intense public sentiment.
Despite both oral and written submissions from the CBI advocating for the virtual format, the special court maintained its stance, insisting that Ghosh appear in person.
Ghosh, currently held by the CBI, faces allegations of financial misconduct linked to his tenure at RG Kar Medical College.
The medical community has speculated that the junior doctor’s tragic fate connected to her potential exposure of significant malpractices at the hospital.
Additionally, the court has ordered the physical appearance of three other individuals involved in the case: Afsar Ali, Suman Hazra, and Biplab Sinha.
Ali, Ghosh’s personal bodyguard, along with Hazra and Sinha, who were medical equipment vendors during Ghosh’s tenure, face implications in the ongoing investigations.
The previous court appearance of Ghosh on 3 September was marked by significant unrest, with hundreds of protesters gathering outside the court, leading to a tense atmosphere.
A protester slapped Ghosh while authorities escorted him out.
In a related case, the special court had previously permitted the state correctional services to present Sanjay Roy, the lone accused in the rape and murder case, virtually during a hearing on 6 September.
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