123 Kolkata: A junior doctor employed with the general surgery unit of RG Kar Hospital was arrested by Cossipore Police and later granted bail by a local court for being directly involved in a hit-and-run case on Saturday afternoon. Debojit Biswas, a postgraduate trainee doctor, allegedly hit two consecutive vehicles – a cycle van and a parked car – on BT Road near Marbagan while driving towards Sinthee More from Shyambazar around 4.10 pm. Eyewitness accounts state the car was above the permitted speed limit, but late manoeuvring led to the accident.
The cycle van puller, Jagadish (47), hailing from Sultanpur in UP, was flung into the air on impact even as the non-engine van overturned. He died at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital later. In an attempt to flee the scene, Biswas's car struck a stationary vehicle before coming to a halt. The front portion of his car was severely damaged.
According to Cossipore police officers, the accused abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene. CCTV footage analysis helped authorities identify and track down Biswas, who was arrested at his residence on Saturday around 9 pm. A witness said, "The van driver was getting onto BT Road when the car, moving at high speed, hit him. Without stopping, it also hit another car that was parked ahead. Cops took the injured to RG Kar Medical College Hospital."
During Sunday's hearing at Sealdah court, Biswas's defence lawyer Binoy Sahu, said that his client is a junior doctor at RG Kar. After completing a 48-hour shift, he was returning home. Due to exhaustion, his eyes closed, leading to loss of control and the accident. The police filed a case of involuntary manslaughter. Since it is a bailable offence, he applied for bail. The Sealdah court granted bail on a bond of Rs 1,000. The accused's family did not want to comment on the 48-hour duty.
The case has been transferred to the fatal squad of Kolkata Police's traffic department for further investigation.