The high court on Wednesday directed the state to provide the family of Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, with the contact number of the Beleghata police station officer-in-charge so they can contact him if their house is attacked by protesters.

The order followed a prayer by Ghosh asking for more forces for the protection of his wife, children and in-laws as a large number of political and non-political protesters have been gathering outside his house every day.

Appearing for the state, advocate Amitesh Bannerjee informed the court that a police post had already been set up outside Ghosh's house.

Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj permitted Ghosh to move the court again if needed and disposed of his petition.

Ghosh has been quizzed by the CBI on six consecutive days in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee at RG Kar while he was the principal.

Every night, after being released from the CGO complex in Salt Lake, Ghosh has had to sneak into his own house in Beleghata amid protests and brickbats by hundreds of people.

His family complained that they felt insecure as large groups of people shouted slogans seeking justice for the deceased woman and demanding Ghosh's arrest.

The police had summoned Ghosh on Wednesday in connection with allegations of disclosing the woman's name in public, something that the law prohibits.

Ghosh skipped the police summons and instead appeared for questioning at the CBI office. He was released from there at 11pm.