Kolkata doctor rape case: SC denies Bengal’s plea to revoke protester’s bail

Kolkata rape-murder protests: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the West Bengal government’s plea challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order granting bail to, Sayan Lahiri, one of the organisers of the August 27 March’s ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ rally protesting against the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder at the state run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Dealing a blow to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, the Supreme Court bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said “prima facie” a case for bail was made out in the case of Sayan Lahiri being arrested .
The Calcutta High Court had on Friday granted bail to Paschim Banga Chhtra Samaj leader Sayan Lahiri. Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj, an unregistered student group, was one of the two organisations that gave the call for the August 27 ‘Nabanna Abhijan’.
The Calcutta HC had noted that Sayan Lahiri appears to be an absolutely insignificant character who does not hold any position of power or influence “in the massive cry for justice in the aftermath of the RG Kar incident,” Justice Amrita Sinha said to uphold and restore the faith of the public in the judiciary, he is liable to be released on bail.
Sayan Lahiri was arrested on August 27 evening for playing an active role in leading the rally which, the police said, turned violent, causing destruction of public and private property and attacks on police officers.
Acting on a plea by Lahiri’s mother Anjali seeking quashing of proceedings against her son and grant of bail, the Calcutta High Court had on Friday ordered his release from police custody by 2 pm on Saturday. Anjali Lahiri had claimed that several FIRs had been filed against her son in various police station of Kolkata. She further imploicated that he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in criminal cases.
In Calcutta HC, opposing the bail of Sayan Lahiri, state Advocate General Kishore Dutta claimed before the court that Lahiri made inflammatory speeches which agitated the protestors leading to a complete breakdown of the law and order situation on August 27 in the city.
The Kolkata Police released Sayan Lahiri from its custody on Saturday.
A woman post-graduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the West Bengal government-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier in August, triggering nationwide outrage.