On January 4, as Justice Amrita Sinha specified a deadline after an in-camera hearing in her courtroom, a team of ED officials along with a 5G-enabled ambulance,rushed to SSKM and picked up Bhadra alias ‘Kalighater Er Kaku (uncle from Kalighat)’. Bhadra’s voice sample was obtained on the same night.
“..the investigating officer of the ED is directed to take immediate steps to take the accused from SSKM hospital and take him to ESIC hospital, Joka, latest by 8 pm today for collection of his voice sample…” the order read.
“The ED shall ensure that all necessary arrangements, including the presence of the doctors for transporting the accused are in place. The ED officer may take the help of CRPF personnel at the time of transporting the accused from SSKM hospital to ESIC hospital, Joka,” it added.
Setting another deadline, the order said, “The medical examination of the accused shall preferably be conducted today itself and latest by noon tomorrow [January 5],” the order read.
‘The Medical Superintendent-and-Vice-Principal (MSVP) of SSKM hospital or any other authority who is in charge… is directed to hand over the accused to the investigating officer of the ED for compliance of the order passed herein. Standing in the way of complying with the court’s order will amount to contempt and the contemnor will be liable to face proceedings for the same,” the order read.
The order mentioned a report filed by the Assistant Director, Kolkata Zone-II, Directorate of Enforcement, signed on December 14, 2023. “The report mentions that the statement of the head of the cardiac department, SSKM Hospital, was recorded. The doctor has deposed that the accused has no major complications and the doctor has not found any serious rhythm disorder from the investigation completed. The doctor has opined that the accused is fit for giving his voice sample subject to the condition that the procedure does not put the accused under stress,” the order mentioned.
“The report further mentions that despite orders passed by the learned special court under PMLA, the voice sample of the accused could not be collected…” the order highlighted.
Bhadra was arrested by the ED on May 30 last year in connection with the school jobs scam.