A city court on Thursday granted interim bail to 92-year-old Mani Chettri, an eminent doctor and a director of AMRI Hospitals, Dhakuria, who was arrested on January 27 in connection with a massive fire in the hospital premises resulting in the death of several persons on December 9 last year.
Delivering his order, Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Alipore court granted interim bail to Dr. Chettri till February 15.
The defence counsel argued that on grounds of his frail health, Dr. Chettri should be granted bail. The counsel representing him also claimed that he was not involved in day-to-day affairs of the hospital.
Meanwhile, another doctor Pronab Dasgupta, who was arrested along with Dr. Chettri and two employees Pritha Banerjee, and Sajid Hossain of the hospital were remanded in police custody till February 6.
Of the 13 persons who have been arrested in connection with the fire, 12 were produced in the court on Thursday.
The court directed that the remaining eight accused be sent to judicial custody till February 16.
R.S. Agarwal, one of the directors, has been lodged at SSKM Hospital because of his health condition.
Five accused remanded in judicial custody, including Mr. Agarwal, have approached the Calcutta High Court for bail.
