ESIC hospital team to evaluate if Bhadra healthy enough to give voice samples to ED

Bhadra, considered to be close to TMC general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee, is also popular as Kalighater Kaku.

The ED is reportedly in possession of a purported audio recording of Bhadra’s conversation, which the central agency claims to be a crucial piece of evidence, and therefore needs his voice sample to confirm it. Also, with the ED told by the court to wrap up the investigation by the end of this year, it approached the special court, asking it to order ESIC hospital, instead of SSKM, to evaluate Bhadra’s health.

Sources in the SSKM hospital, where Bhadra is admitted, said that the accused was under stress and, therefore, could not give voice samples at present. The ED has expressed doubt over it, alleging that SSKM hospital was” delaying it unnecessarily”.

“The arguments given by the SSKM hospital authorities for not collecting the samples are baseless. Questions are also being raised about the impartiality and transparency of the medical board which is currently monitoring Bhadra’s health at SSKM,” an ED official said.

In the court, the ED had alleged that the SSKM authorities were trying to obstruct the work of the central probe agency, and the judicial process by preventing them from taking Bhadra’s voice samples.

According to the SSKM authorities, there is “mental pressure” on Bhadra and his condition is not good and psychiatrists may also be consulted to address the stress issues.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, ” It is a matter of investigation, so I will not like to comment. However, it is true that whatever narratives ED tries to create are given by the BJP. Any person can be unwell and that is the doctor’s job to see. The ED is doing everything to please the BJP.”

BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya, however, questioned the functioning of the SSKM hospital. “The SSKM has lost people’s trust. We have seen in the past how the TMC leader who is now in jail was admitted to SSKM and when taken to AIIMS, was declared fit. Either doctors there (SSKM) lack treatment skills or they follow instructions. Now, that these probes are being probed under the courts; monitoring, they will look into it,” said Bhattacharya.