Moga (PTI): A pre-arrest bail application filed by the chairman of a charitable hospital, where nine patients lost their vision following an operation last month, was on Thursdayrejected by an additional sessions judge here.

ASJ B S Sandhu rejected the application of Harvinder Singh, chairman, Guru Ramdass Charitable Trust and Hospital in whose Moga-based medical facility the nine victims had lost their vision.

The court rejected his plea after hearing the arguments of both the prosecution and the defence.

The victims, mostly from Bhinder Kalan and Bhinder Khurd villages of Moga, were among the 10 patients operated upon in the charitable hospital on July 16.

The nine victims, initially, suffered an infection in their eyes and later lost their vision.

The Moga district police had registered a case against Harvinder Singh and others following directions of deputy commissioner Satwant Singh Johal and on the basis of a magisterial enquiry.

Others who were booked by the police included two doctors, who conducted the eye surgery, another two doctors of Moga civil hospital and some staff members of the charitable hospital.