Sandip Ghosh granted bail by Supreme Court in RG Kar corruption case

The Supreme Court has granted bail to former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh in connection with a financial irregularities case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

A bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale set aside a previous Calcutta High Court order that had refused bail. The top court highlighted the length of Ghosh's incarceration and the slow pace of the trial, noting that he had spent over two years in custody while only seven out of 147 listed witnesses had been examined to date.

Setting aside the High Court's February 23 order, the bench directed that the relevant trial court specify the exact terms and conditions of his bail release.

Investigative background and charges

The CBI Anti-Corruption Branch in Kolkata registered the case against Ghosh on 24 August 2024. Investigators charged him under provisions of the Indian Penal Code covering criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, and using forged documents, alongside provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Allegations against the former principal center on two main points: financial misconduct in institutional procurement and administration at the college, and the intentional manipulation of student merit scores to favor undeserving candidates.

Procedural history

Ghosh sought relief from the Supreme Court following repeated rejections by lower judicial bodies over the past two years.

Although Ghosh obtained bail in December 2024 regarding the separate rape and murder case at the institution due to statutory deadline limits on chargesheet submissions, he remained in custody under the financial corruption charges.

Public and institutional reactions

Responding to the decision, the victim's father observed that while the CBI operates as an independent investigating agency, public institutions must remain accountable for investigative efficiency and trial execution. Medical representatives including Dr Utpal Bandyopadhyay and Dr Aniket Mahato expressed concerns over procedural delays, urging fast-track proceedings to complete the trial expeditiously.