Actor Bikram Chatterjee surrenders in court, gets bail

Kolkata: Actor Bikram Chatterjee on Friday walked out free on bail from the Alipore court after he surrendered before chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Sougata Ray Chowdhury in the car crash that killed his model-actor friend Sonika Singh Chauhan six days ago.

A day after his release from the private hospital, Bikram, with his head covered in a bandage, went to the Alipore court at around 10 am and surrendered. He was accompanied by his father Bijay Chatterjee and lawyers.

When the case came up for hearing before the CJM at around 2 pm, his lawyers requested for his bail saying he had been booked in a suo moto case only, on bailable charges 304A (causing death due to negligence) and 279 (rash driving) under the Indian Penal Code. They argued that the 30-year-old actor had surrendered and promised to offer cooperation in the probe if granted bail. The public prosecutor also did not oppose the bail plea. The CJM granted Bikram the bail against a personal bond of Rs 1,000 with the condition that he would cooperate in the investigation.

Sonika’s family recently lodged a complaint accusing Bikram of rash driving in a drunken state, which they claimed was what took Sonika’s life. But the absence of any stringent charge brought the relief to the actor. Bikram is likely to appear at the Tollygunge police station on Saturday responding to the notice served to him.

At a press meet later, Bikram described Sonika’s death as an “unfortunate incident and an irreparable loss.” He said, “She was very dear to me. She was a part of my life. Her family has suffered a loss greater than mine. I wish she were alive even at the cost of me. With that, the loss would have been less.”