The Kolkata High Court has granted bail to Suman Hazra, an associate of former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh, in the financial irregularities case, while restricting him from leaving the Kolkata metropolitan area and North 24 Parganas district.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh passed the order after hearing the matter on Friday. Under the bail conditions, Hazra must furnish two bonds of Rs 10,000 each and provide local surety for the same amount.
Before his release from jail, Hazra must deposit his passport with the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Alipore. He will also be required to appear before the court on every date fixed for the hearing.
The Central Bureau of Investigation did not oppose the grant of bail during Friday’s hearing, according to the report. Hazra’s lawyer, Sabyasachi Banerjee, argued that the principal accused in the case, 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 alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during Ghosh’s tenure as principal. The CBI had arrested Ghosh in 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 CBI has alleged that Ghosh collected 10 per cent from each vendor as “cut money”. The allegations remain subject to the legal process. The report identifies Hazra as having allegedly played the intermediary’s role in the case, but the High Court’s bail order does not amount to a finding of guilt.
Ghosh was granted bail by the Supreme Court after the CBI failed to file its chargesheet within the prescribed period, according to the report. The same argument regarding Hazra’s extended custody was cited by his lawyer during the High Court proceedings.
Hazra’s release remains subject to compliance with the travel restriction, bond and surety requirements, passport surrender and mandatory court appearances. The case will continue through the scheduled hearings before the competent court.
