Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to modify the order directing the trial court to consider the materials to start the trial of Sandip Ghosh within seven days, stating that there was already a "systematic delay".
The CBI filed the charge sheet in the case on Nov 29, 2024, mentioning that they were awaiting the prosecution sanction from the govt. There had been eight hearings since then, and the charge-framing process was pushed back in the absence of an order.
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They pleaded for an extension so that they could peruse the documents handed over, and Section 207 of CrPC could be complied with. The section requires a magistrate to provide the accused with copies of certain documents, including the police report, FIR, statements, and confessions.
Justice Ghosh refused to hear them. "I have passed an order consciously. There was a delay going on strategically. There is a systematic delay involved... Go start the hearing over there (trial court)."
On Tuesday, he had directed the Alipore special court to make the consideration within a week from the date fixed for the next hearing on Jan 30. The HC also directed the special court to take into account all the witnesses and accordingly fix a schedule so that the trial of the case could be expedited.
The lawyers approached the HC a day after the trial court issued a show-cause to the CBI for delay in informing the lower court about govt sanction for the prosecution of Ghosh in the alleged financial irregularities.
It was on the directions of the HC that the corruption probe was handed over to the CBI.