Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal, has secured bail from the Supreme Court in connection with a financial corruption case. The decision was delivered on Friday by a division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale. Ghosh was initially taken into custody in August 2024, immediately following the tragic rape and murder of a young doctor at the same medical institution. While that tragic incident shocked the nation, the subsequent financial investigations led to his separate arrest and prolonged incarceration. The top court's decision to grant relief was primarily driven by observations regarding the sluggish pace of the ongoing trial.
Allegations of Financial Irregularities and Merit Manipulation
During the proceedings, the bench noted that it had thoroughly evaluated the submissions made by the senior counsel representing the appellant, alongside the arguments presented by the Additional Solicitor General on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation. The court also carefully examined all the material placed on record. The accusations leveled against the appellant primarily revolve around two distinct facets. The first pertains to financial mismanagement and irregularities allegedly committed during his tenure as the head of the institution. The second involves manipulating merit scores to unduly benefit unqualified candidates.
Extended Detention and Slow Witness Examination Drive the Ruling
The bench observed that the appellant has already spent more than two years behind bars. The court was informed that out of a total of 147 listed witnesses, testimonies and cross-examinations have been completed for only 7 witnesses so far. Taking into account the extensive period already served in custody and the current delayed stage of the trial, the bench concluded that the high court's earlier order rejecting relief should be set aside, paving the way for the acceptance of the bail petition.
Trial Court to Stipulate Conditions for Release
The Supreme Court ruled that the order passed by the High Court on February 23, 2026, stands annulled. Consequently, the appellant is granted bail subject to the specific terms and conditions that will be established by the relevant trial court. With this directive, the legal proceedings move back to the trial court level to finalize the release parameters while the broader judicial process regarding the financial irregularities continues.
