Abhaya's murder a pre-planned conspiracy? Court extends custody of Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal

The Sealdah court on Friday rejected the bail applications of former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandip Ghosh and ex-OC of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal. The two are being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection to a larger conspiracy related to the RG Kar case, with questions still surrounding their involvement in the primary incident.

The CBI argued in court that further digital evidence needed to be collected and requested an extension of the accused’s judicial custody for another 14 days. They also applied for narco and polygraph tests for both suspects, although Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal refused to undergo the respective tests. The investigative agency expressed concerns that granting bail could impact the ongoing investigation, citing the influence of the two individuals.

The case, presided over by Judge Abhijit Mondal, has drawn considerable attention, especially as investigators work to determine whether the former principal and police officer are directly tied to the main incident, or if their involvement points to a broader conspiracy. The CBI’s legal representative indicated that the investigation is ongoing, with a particular focus on gathering more digital evidence that could potentially link the accused to a premeditated conspiracy.

Lawyers for both Ghosh and Mondal vigorously contested the CBI’s claims. Mondal’s defense questioned the need for further investigations after the CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) report was already submitted, suggesting that many others had visited the scene before his client. Ghosh’s lawyer, on the other hand, highlighted that his client had yet to be formally informed of the reasons for his arrest, questioning the lack of transparency in the process.

Despite these defenses, the court sided with the CBI, stating that the investigation is still at a crucial stage and both individuals need to remain in custody. CBI’s lawyer informed the court that they had obtained biological evidence from Sanjay Roy, one of the central figures in the case, and based on the evidence, the first charge sheet had already been filed. However, the investigation is now expanding to see whether Ghosh and Mondal had any significant role in the overall conspiracy.

In the end, the court ordered that both Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal be remanded in judicial custody until November 4, 2024, to allow the investigation to continue without interference. This latest development has added another layer of complexity to an already convoluted case that continues to evolve.