The HC order to the hospital director came following allegations that the medical facility has become a haven for influential people who are being probed by central investigation agencies.

Hearing two public interest litigations (PIL) raising concerns that “ordinary hospital goers” were being affected due to the prolonged stay of influential people, the HC division bench called for a detailed report on the health condition, duration of admission and the facilities availed by these high-profile accused, including Sujoy Krishna Bhadra who was allegedly admitted to the hospital for months to stall the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation.

The bench posted the matter for hearing on January 24.

It was contended by the petitioners that these influential people were being sheltered at the hospital to protect them from the investigation. They proposed that the accused could be sent to the Central government-run hospitals to allow for an independent health assessment.

The ED counsels also argued in favour of the petitioners’ allegations against the SSKM authorities. The court observed that the allegations, if proved true, were serious. However, the bench refused to form an opinion without hearing Advocate General Kishore Datta. It said that it is not recording any opinion on the allegations since a request was made for the Advocate General to make submissions for the state government.

The court said that prolonged admission to hospital for 3-4 months could only take place in situations where the accused had become critically ill or were on life-support to rule out the possibility of being shifted.

On Wednesday, the ED finally collected the voice sample of Sujaykrishna Bhadra, one of the key accused in the school jobs scam, after more than five months of tug of war. The development came with the directive of the High Court after the single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha held a closed-door hearing.