AMRI MD Mani Chettri granted interim bail

A city court today granted interim bail to renowned doctor Mani Chettri, arrested in connection with the fire at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata that claimed 93 lives.

A city court on Thursday granted interim bail to renowned doctor Mani Chettri, arrested in connection with the fire at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata that claimed 93 lives.

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Chettri, the managing director in whose name the hospital had the licence, was arrested on January 27 along with another doctor Pranab Dasgupta.

Chief judicial magistrate, Alipore, CH Karim granted interim bail to Chettri till February 16 on a bond of Rs 20,000 and directed him to submit his passport.

The court, however, extended police custody of Dasgupta, a director of the hospital, along with senior hospital officials Pritha Banerjee and Sajid Hossain, till February 6.

It also extended judicial custody of all the other directors arrested in connection with the case, where they have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Lawyers, appearing for 91-year-old Chettri, submitted that the doctor was ill and currently being treated at government-run SSKM hospital, and as such should be granted bail.

RS Agarwal, another arrested AMRI director, is also admitted to the same government hospital after he complained of illness.

While thirteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the case, three board members -- Aditya Agarwal, Preeti Surekha and Rahul Todi -- are absconding.

The licence of the hospital was cancelled on the day of the fire incident -- December 9.