St. Luke’s Doctor Released on Bail in Underage Sex Investigation

ATTLEBORO — The doctor accused of using cash, drugs, and alcohol to coerce a teenage boy into having sex with him has been released on bail.

Sujan Kayastha, 37, of Dartmouth, was released from jail over the weekend after a superior court judge reduced his bail from $75,000 to $15,000. He was released from the Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth on Saturday.

Kayastha's release comes after he appealed the $75,000 bail and other conditions that were set during his arraignment on Thursday in Attleboro District Court.

Under new conditions set by Fall River Superior Court Judge Thomas McGuire, Kayastha must stay away from the alleged victim and children under the age of 16 without supervision. He must also surrender his passport. Kayastha will not be required to wear a GPS monitoring device or adhere to a curfew while his case is pending.

Kayastha was arrested at his Dartmouth home on Wednesday following an investigation into allegations that he had sexually abused a 14-year-old Attleboro boy.

Prosecutors say Kayastha engaged in sexually explicit text conversations with the boy and had made arrangements to meet him at a Seekonk motel in order to have sex with him. Kayastha allegedly offered the teen drugs, alcohol, and money in exchange for sex.

A search of his home on Wednesday turned up multiple electronic devices that contained child pornography as well as suspected narcotics.

Kayastha had been a hospitalist at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford prior to his arrest. In a statement on Thursday, St. Luke's officials said "we are disturbed to learn of the allegations and arrest of Dr. Sujan Kayastha.  The Doctor has been immediately relieved of his duties pending a review of the matter."

Kayastha has pleaded not guilty to charges including possession of child pornography and trafficking a person under 18 for sexual servitude.

Kayastha is scheduled to appear in Attleboro court on May 14.

The case remains under investigation by Attleboro Police.