KOLKATA: A designated CBI court, which denied bail to former R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh, made a startling observation that the seriousness of the charges against him could attract capital punishment if proven and he is found guilty.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S. Dey made the observations while granting the CBI's request for the judicial custody of Ghosh and co-accused Abhijit Mondal until Monday, September 30, maintaining that the nature and gravity of the accusations against Dr. Ghosh qualify to fall under the "rarest of rare cases" category. The court opined that it would be an injustice, flouting the principle of equity, to release the accused on bail.

Ghosh's counsel argued before the special judge that his client had been falsely implicated in the case and that there was no act on his part to commit the crime as alleged. However, the court did not agree with them and stated that a person may commit an offence with the help of others, and there is no need for the other accused to be present at the place of occurrence.

The CBI arrested Ghosh on September 2, 2024, amid allegations of tampering with evidence and involvement in a conspiracy related to a high-profile rape and murder case at the medical college. Alongside Ghosh, Abhijit Mondal, a former officer in charge of the Tala police station, has also been implicated in these grave accusations. The court's decision to deny bail reflects the "gravity of the situation," as it noted that the nature of the accusations warrants serious consideration.

The court also rejected the bail prayer of Mondal, who has been accused of allegedly tampering with evidence and delaying the filing of the FIR in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run hospital on August 9 at R.G. Kar Hospital, Kolkata. The case’s handling has sparked massive protests from doctors and political parties.

The CBI has requested further judicial custody for Ghosh and Mondal, as investigations continue into the alleged financial irregularities and other criminal activities associated with the hospital.