Dr Nirmal Maji, president of West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) and ruling Trinamul Congress MLA, was granted bail on Wednesday by the 15th Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Court after paying a bond Rs 1000.

Dr Kunal Saha, US-based NRI doctor, had filed a defamation case with charges of criminal conspiracy against Dr Maji with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (CMM) during the end of December last year after the latter allegedly made a defamatory statement against the former in an interview in a Bengali daily in November last year.

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Dr Maji had stated Dr Saha as ‘cheater’ saying, “He is cheating people using his organisation People for Better Treatment (PBT).” After taking cognizance of the case the CMM court had referred it to the 15th MM.

After examining Dr Saha and two eyewitnesses the 15th MM court had issued an order on 31st January directing Dr Maji appear before it. “Mr Maji in person appeared before the 15th MM and prayed for bail.

He was granted bail after paying a bond Rs 1000,” Mr Amit Bhattacharya, Dr Saha’s lawyer said. “Next date has been fixed on 10 April by the 15th MM for the appearance of the accused and hearing petition filed under section 205 CrPC,” Mr Bhattacharya said. “The criminal case was emerged from Dr Maji’s brazen attempt to dialyze his pet dog using the dialysis machine at SSKM Hospital using political influence in 2015.

“After I lodged a complaint against Dr. Maji with the Medical Council of India (MCI) seeking cancellation of his medical registration for unethical conduct, MCI directed WBMC to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action against Dr. Maji within three months vide an order dated 4th November, 2017,” Dr Saha said in a press stated issued by PBT on Wednesday .

“Following publication of this MCI Order, Dr. Maji made slanderous and overtly defamatory remarks against me in newspapers on 17th November, 2017. I appeared before the Bankshall Court during my last trip to Kolkata last December and filed this criminal case against Dr Maji. Two other witnesses were also examined by the court on 31st January in my support as court took cognizance and issued processes/summons against Dr. Maji for which he appeared and surrendered before the court on Wednesday. Dr. Maji now stands indicted for criminal offence under several sections of IPC,” according to the statement.