Supreme Court grants Sandip Ghosh bail after over two years in custody

The Supreme Court granted bail to former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh. His prolonged custody and the slow examination of witnesses shaped the decision.

In Short

• CBI accused Ghosh of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust
• Allegations include financial irregularities and manipulated merit scores favouring undeserving candidates
• Trial court will determine the conditions governing Ghosh's release from custody

The Supreme Court has granted bail to Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in a case involving alleged financial irregularities and manipulation of merit scores at the Kolkata institution, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale allowed Ghosh's appeal against the Calcutta High Court's February 23, 2026 order rejecting his bail plea.

The Supreme Court considered Ghosh's prolonged detention and the pace of the trial. According to PTI, he had been in custody for more than two years, while only seven of the 147 witnesses had been examined.

“Suffice it to state that the appellant has undergone incarceration for more than two years and we have been informed that only seven out of 147 witnesses have been examined so far,” the bench said.

In its order passed on Thursday, the bench said, “In such view of the matter, considering the period of incarceration and also the stage of the trial, we are inclined to set aside the impugned order passed by the High Court and allow this appeal.”

The court said the trial court would decide the terms and conditions of Ghosh's bail. “Accordingly, the impugned order dated February 23, 2026 passed by the high court stands set aside, and the appellant is granted bail on such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the concerned trial court,” it said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation probed the case and named Ghosh in its charge sheet on August 24, 2024, PTI reported. He was accused of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and using forged documents under Sections 120B, 409, 420, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, along with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The allegations relate to financial irregularities at the college and the alleged accommodation of undeserving candidates by manipulating merit scores.

Ghosh approached the Supreme Court after the trial court rejected his bail applications on January 7, 2025, and the Calcutta High Court dismissed his plea on February 23, 2026. The Supreme Court has now granted him bail after considering his period in custody and the stage of the trial.

- Ends