Thaindian News

Kolkata, Jan 30 (IANS) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leadership wants the state government to speed up the bail process of Mani Chhetri - a renowned doctor and one of the managing directors of AMRI hospital here - considering his contribution to the field of medical science and his age of 92 years.

On Jan 27, Chhetri and AMRI director Pranab Dasgupta were picked up from their respective residences by the police. The licence of the hospital was taken in the name of Chhetri, a veteran general physician. Dasgupta is a leading gynaecologist.

A district court at Alipore later remanded the duo, charged under the Indian Penal Code’s section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), to police custody till Feb 2, police said.

However, Chhetri was admitted to the state-run SSKM hospital when he complained of cardio-vascular problems.

“We have told the chief minister that law should take its own course, we have no problem with that. But we have also said that considering Chhetri’s age and his contribution to the field of medical science his case should be moved to a fast track court so that he at least gets bail,” said Harka Bahadur Chettri, GJM legislator.

“The chief minister has told us that he (Chhetri) was arrested because he is one of the directors and the government has to take an impartial stand in dealing with the problem,” said Harka Bahadur Chettri.

Seven directors and four of the management staff are already behind bars following the country’s worst-ever fire tragedy in a hospital which killed 94 people in December 2011.

Six of the directors are now lodged in Alipore Correctional Home. The seventh director R.S. Agarwal continues to be admitted in SSKM Hospital following ill health since his arrest Dec 9, 2011 - the day of the incident.