SC notice to CBI on Sandip Ghosh bail in R G Kar case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation on the bail plea of Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in the financial irregularities case.

The bench of Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale sought the agency's response by October 15, the next date of hearing. Ghosh moved the Supreme Court after the Calcutta High Court dismissed his bail plea.

The plea

Ghosh has been in jail for nearly two years since his arrest over alleged irregularities in procurements at the hospital. His lawyers, advocate-on-record Aditya Giri and advocate Hemant Kalra, submitted that the investigation is complete and continued incarceration of the accused serves no further investigative purpose.

The plea said the prosecution has cited 147 witnesses and 622 documents, apart from extensive documentary and digital material. It said this makes the trial likely to take considerable time.

On merits, the plea said no money trail or unaccounted wealth has been traced to Ghosh. It said the supplementary charge-sheet attributes the alleged receipt of gratification from vendors to co-accused Akhtar Ali, against whom Ghosh himself had initiated an inquiry.

The plea also cited parity with other accused. It said co-accused Shashikant Chandak, against whom a CFSL report allegedly indicates forgery, was never arrested and was granted bail. It said co-accused Ashish Kumar Pandey was granted bail by the Calcutta High Court on July 1 this year.

The case so far

The financial irregularities case stems from complaints about procurement and tender practices at RG Kar during Ghosh's tenure. The hospital came under national scrutiny in August 2024 after a trainee doctor was raped and murdered on its premises.

Acting on a petition by Akhtar Ali, a former deputy medical superintendent of the hospital, the Calcutta High Court on August 23, 2024 directed the CBI to investigate the alleged financial irregularities. The CBI arrested Ghosh on September 2, 2024.

The Supreme Court on September 6, 2024 dismissed Ghosh's plea against the high court order directing the CBI probe. A bench led by the then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said Ghosh, as an accused, had no locus to intervene in the proceedings, reported IANS.

On December 13, 2024, a Kolkata court granted Ghosh bail in the rape and murder case after the CBI failed to file a charge-sheet within the 90-day period, SCC Online reported. He remained in custody in the financial irregularities case.

The CBI in January 2025 alleged "systemic rigging" by Ghosh in awarding hospital contracts, media reported.

On May 18, 2026, the West Bengal government sanctioned Ghosh's prosecution in the graft case. An order by the Department of Health and Family Welfare said the governor, as the competent authority, had accorded sanction under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, reported PTI. The CBI has registered a regular case against Ghosh and three entities, Maa Tara Traders, Eshan Cafe and Khama Louha.

(With inputs from PTI)