The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on charges of financial misconduct related to his tenure at the institution. This arrest comes shortly after Ghosh was named in a First Information Report (FIR) as part of the CBI’s investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the hospital. The FIR, which was registered following directions from the Calcutta High Court, also names three Kolkata-based private entities: Ma Tara Traders of Madhya Jhorehat, Eshan Cafe in Belgachia, and Khama Louha.
Ghosh has been under scrutiny for 15 days, during which he was repeatedly questioned at the CBI’s Salt Lake office in connection with both the financial misconduct allegations and the investigation into the rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of August 9 at the hospital’s seminar hall. Following his questioning, Ghosh was taken to the CBI’s Nizam Palace office in Kolkata, where the agency’s anti-corruption wing formally placed him under arrest.
The CBI had also conducted a day-long search of Ghosh’s residence in Beliaghata, Kolkata, on August 25 as part of its broader investigation into corruption at the medical institution. In parallel to the CBI’s actions, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a money laundering investigation linked to the financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during Ghosh’s tenure.
In a related development, the West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, has proposed a draft bill in response to the public outcry over the handling of the Kolkata rape-murder case. The draft bill includes provisions for the death penalty for individuals convicted of rape if the crime results in the victim’s death or leaves her in a vegetative state. It also proposes life imprisonment for rape and gang-rape convicts, ensuring they remain incarcerated for the remainder of their lives. The ongoing investigations and legal developments have cast a significant spotlight on RG Kar Medical College and the broader issues of corruption and justice in West Bengal.
Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday in connection with allegations of financial misconduct at the hospital. The arrest followed a 15-day period during which Ghosh was extensively questioned by the CBI’s anti-corruption branch at their Salt Lake office. This questioning also involved a polygraph test and was related not only to financial irregularities but also to the investigation into the rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital on August 9.
Ghosh’s arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigations into both the tragic incident at the hospital and the alleged financial malpractices during his tenure. After his questioning at the Salt Lake CGO Complex, Ghosh was taken to the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch at Nizam Palace, Kolkata, where he was formally arrested.
The case has sparked widespread attention, particularly among junior doctors who had been protesting the handling of the rape and murder case. News of Ghosh’s arrest was met with celebrations by these protestors, who had been demanding justice for their deceased colleague.
The allegations against Ghosh are extensive. Dr. Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, had lodged several complaints regarding financial irregularities under Ghosh’s leadership. These complaints included serious accusations, such as the illegal sale of organs from unidentified bodies sent for post-mortem at the hospital. Ghosh had previously resigned from his position as principal but was later reinstated at another government-run institution, the National Medical College and Hospital. However, following the emergence of the rape and murder case, the West Bengal government placed Ghosh on leave.
In addition to the CBI’s investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing Ghosh’s involvement in both the financial irregularities and the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case. The Supreme Court of India had earlier criticized Ghosh for allegedly attempting to dismiss the rape and murder as a suicide, further intensifying scrutiny of his actions.
The case has also brought to light the condition of a key witness, Debasish Som, a demonstrator in the Forensic Medicine Department at RG Kar Medical College. Som, who had been a crucial eyewitness in the financial misconduct investigation, was recently admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata in critical condition. His testimony is particularly important, as it has been alleged that, during Ghosh’s tenure, organs from unidentified bodies were sold on the black market.
The unfolding events around Ghosh’s arrest, the financial misconduct allegations, and the tragic death of the trainee doctor have not only shaken RG Kar Medical College but also raised serious concerns about the governance and ethical practices within the medical establishment.
