Kolkata, Feb 6: After two failed attempts to secure more time for the charge-framing process in the multi-crore financial irregularities case at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, former principal Sandip Ghosh and other accused have now moved a division bench of the Calcutta High Court.

The division bench, comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Subhendu Samanta, has accepted their petition and scheduled the hearing for the second half of Thursday.

The repeated rebuffs from the single-judge bench have now led the accused to seek recourse from the division bench.

The case involves allegations of multi-crore financial mismanagement at the state-run medical institution.

Notably, the charge-framing process is also set to begin at a special court in Kolkata this afternoon, making its fate dependent on the division bench’s ruling.

The special court is also scheduled to hear exemption petitions filed by the five accused, including Ghosh.

On Wednesday, the single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh had rejected, for the second time, a plea by the accused seeking more time for charge framing. This follows a January 31 ruling where Justice Tirthankar Ghosh had dismissed a similar plea, directing the CBI to ensure charge-framing begins by February 6.

On Wednesday, the accused had moved a review petition before the same bench, which was also rejected. Justice Ghosh questioned its admissibility, emphasizing that his earlier rejection was based on careful consideration.

The CBI charge sheet names five individuals — Sandip Ghosh, his assistant-cum-bodyguard Afsar Ali, private contractors Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra, and junior doctor Ashish Pandey. All five are currently in judicial custody. The allegations against them involve significant financial irregularities at the medical college, and the outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday asked the State government what action it proposes to take against the police officers attached with the Badlapur police for lapses in registering FIR and investigating the sexual assault case involving two minors inside the school premises there.

A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale asked the State to inform on the next date of hearing, which is after three weeks, the proposed action. “File affidavit regarding action taken against the concerned police officers,” the bench said.

Advocate for one of the victims urged the court to direct authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against the policemen concerned. He pointed out that the disciplinary proceedings are complete which has found them guilty. However, the court did not pass any order to the effect.

During an earlier hearing, State Advocate General Birendra Saraf had informed the bench that departmental inquiry was initiated against the police officers and one officer has been found guilty of dereliction of duty. He had also said that the file had been sent to the police commissioner for necessary action.

The HC, last year, had directed setting up of a committee of experts to examine the safety of children in schools and other educational institutions. The committee was asked to submit a report of its recommendations.

On Wednesday, additional public prosecutor Prajakta Shinde said that due to some difficulty the committee was unable to submit the report and sought three more weeks for the same.

Two minor girls were sexually assaulted inside the school toilet by a male attendant on August 12 and 13, 2024. He was arrested but later killed in a police shootout when he was being taken by the police from jail for questioning.

The Special Investigation (SIT), probing the case, has filed the chargesheet naming the attendant. The chargesheet has also named the school’s headmaster and two members of the management for “failing to report” the sexual assault, as required under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The HC had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue after the people in Badlapur protested on the streets and staged a rail blockade after the police and the school failed to attend against the culprit.

Akshay Shinde, 24, was arrested in August 2024 for the alleged sexual assault on the minors. He worked as an attendant at the school. On September 23, while being transported from Taloja prison to the police station for questioning, Shinde was killed in a purported scuffle. The police claimed he snatched a constable’s pistol and opened fire, injuring an officer, prompting Senior Inspector Sanjay Shinde to retaliate with fatal shots.

Bengaluru: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking loan recovery accounts from banks. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya appeared on behalf of Mallya.

About The Petition

According to Mallya’s counsel Rs 6,200 crore was to be repaid, but Rs 14,000 crore has been recovered. Mallya’s counsel claimed that this was informed to the Lok Sabha by the Finance Minister.

Mallya’s counsel has argued that the loan recovery officer stated that Rs 10,200 crore has been recovered. He claimed that even though the full loan amount has been cleared, the process is still ongoing. Therefore, a request has been made to direct the banks to provide a statement of the recovered loan amount.

Based on Mallya’s petition a notice was issued to banks and loan recovery officers by the High Court bench led by Justice R Devadas.

Mallya is currently living in London and he is the subject of extradition efforts from the Government of India for alleged loan defaults.

Earlier on December 18, 2024, Vijay Mallya had claimed that banks have recovered Rs 14,131.60 crore from him “against the judgement debt of Rs 6203 crore” but he continues to be “an economic offender”.

He said in a post on X that unless the Enforcement Directorate and banks can legally justify how they have taken more than two times the debt, he is entitled to relief.

Tweet Of Vijay Mallya

“The Debt Recovery Tribunal adjudged the KFA (Kingfisher Airlines) debt at Rs 6203 crores including Rs 1200 crores of interest. The FM announced in Parliament that through the ED, Banks have recovered Rs 14,131.60 crores from me against the judgement debt of Rs 6203 crores and I am still an economic offender. Unless the ED and Banks can legally justify how they have taken more than two times the debt, I am entitled to relief which I will pursue,” Mallya said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had listed several major cases where the Enforcement Directorate has from time to time attached properties of individuals and companies connected to economic offence cases.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman On The Debate On Supplementary Demands For Grants

Replying to the debate on Supplementary Demands for Grants – First Batch for 2024-2025, she apprised the Lok Sabha Tuesday evening that the central enforcement agency has successfully restored properties worth around Rs 22,280 crore — only the major cases included.Of those restored, the complete attached property worth Rs 14,131.6 crores of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya has been restored to the public sector banks, the minister said.