The High Court has granted bail to Suman Hazra, an alleged associate of former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh, in the financial irregularities case, while restricting his movement to the Kolkata Metropolitan Area and North 24 Parganas district.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh passed the order on Friday after hearing the case. Hazra will have to furnish two bonds of Rs 10,000 each and provide local surety for the same amount, according to the report by Sanmarg.
The court has also directed Hazra to deposit his passport with the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Alipore before he is released from jail. He will be required to appear before the court on every date of hearing and cannot leave the specified areas without complying with the court’s conditions.
The Central Bureau of Investigation did not oppose the grant of bail during Friday’s hearing. Hazra’s lawyer, Sabyasachi Banerjee, argued that the principal accused, Sandip Ghosh, had already received bail from the Supreme Court and that Hazra had spent more than two years in custody.
The case relates to allegations of financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CBI had arrested Ghosh in connection with the case. According to the agency, Hazra was one of Ghosh’s key associates and allegedly acted as an intermediary in the arrangement involving vendors.
The report said the allegations include the collection of 10 per cent of payments from each vendor as commission, described as cut money. These claims remain allegations in the case and will be subject to the legal process.
Ghosh received bail from the Supreme Court after the CBI did not submit its chargesheet within the prescribed period, according to the report. Hazra’s bail order now sets out separate geographical, financial and procedural conditions for his release.
The immediate next steps are Hazra’s compliance with the bond and surety requirements, deposit of his passport and attendance at future hearings. The court’s restrictions will remain relevant while proceedings in the case continue.
