The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has included Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in its FIR related to alleged financial irregularities at the institution during his tenure.
The FIR includes charges under Section 120B of the IPC (criminal conspiracy), Section 420 of the IPC (cheating and dishonesty), and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018), which addresses unlawful acceptance of gratification by a public servant.
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These charges are cognizable and non-bailable, according to a senior Calcutta High Court lawyer. In addition to Ghosh, the CBI has filed cases against M/s Ma Tara Traders of Madhya Jorehat, Banipur, Howrah; M/s Eshan Cafe of 4/1, H/1, JK Ghosh Road, Belgachhia, Kolkata; and M/s Khama Louha.
The FIR was filed based on a complaint by Debal Kumar Ghosh, special secretary to the state health department, with PTI retaining a copy of the document.
The FIR was lodged on Saturday after the CBI assumed control of the investigation from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT). This shift came following the Calcutta High Court’s directive, which was prompted by the West Bengal government’s initial formation of the SIT in response to the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic on August 9.
The court’s order followed a petition by former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, Akhtar Ali. Ali had requested an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged financial misconduct at the institution, spurred by rampant public speculation linking the corruption to the medic’s death and concerns that the victim might have been privy to, or threatening to expose, the alleged corruption.
Ali’s petition also cited insufficient action on his previous complaints to the state vigilance commission and anti-corruption bureau about Ghosh, which instead led to his own transfer from the institution.
In his high court plea, Ali accused Ghosh of illegal activities, including the sale of unclaimed corpses, trafficking of biomedical waste, and awarding tenders in exchange for kickbacks from suppliers. He also alleged that students were coerced into paying between Rs 5 and 8 lakh to pass exams.
Ghosh served as the principal of RG Kar Hospital from February 2021 to September 2023. After being transferred in October of that year, he was inexplicably reinstated to the same position within a month, holding the role until the murder of the doctor.
Following the crime, Ghosh was removed from RG Kar Hospital but quickly reinstated at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital by the Mamata Banerjee government. In response to student protests and pending the corruption investigation, he has since been placed on indefinite leave.
On Sunday, the CBI conducted a day-long search at Ghosh’s Beliaghata residence in Kolkata in connection with the corruption charges. Ghosh has been questioned by the agency for ten consecutive days and underwent a polygraph test on Monday related to the rape and murder investigation. The CBI also summoned the hospital’s former superintendent Sanjay Vashisth and forensic demonstrator Debasish Som for questioning at its Nizam Palace office regarding the corruption allegations.
(With PTI Inputs)