Sonika Chauhan death case: Bail granted to Vikram Chatterjee

Kolkata: Actor Vikram Chatterjee, arrested on charges of unintentionally causing death of co-passenger and model Sonika Chauhan in a road mishap while driving under the influence of alcohol, was given bail by a court on Wednesday.

Chatterjee was granted bail by Additional District Judge Sujay Sengupta of Alipore court this afternoon, 18 days after he was arrested by Kolkata Police in the case.

The court enlarged him on bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the same amount, while also asking him to submit his passport to the court and be present before it on all hearings of the case.

The court also stipulated that he would not leave the city without prior permission of Tollygunje police station, where the case against him was lodged.

Chatterjee was arrested on July 6 midnight on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other penal offences.

Cruising at a high speed on early hours April 29, the actor's car had hit the pavement on Rashbehari Avenue, killing Sonika.

The Kolkata police, which probed the case, filed chargesheet in the case on July 19, indicting the actor of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, rash driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and causing grievous hurt and mischief.

The chargesheet cited around 40 witnesses, eight of whom had recorded their statements before a judicial magistrate.

Besides Vikram and Sonika's friends, other witnesses include a KMC conservancy worker and a taxi driver.