The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, and a police inspector on Saturday in connection with the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the institution. The CBI accused them of disrupting the crime scene, tampering with evidence, breaching official protocols, engaging in a criminal conspiracy, and obstructing the investigation.
Ghosh, 53, had been previously arrested on September 2 in a separate corruption case related to the hospital and is currently in jail. Inspector Abhijit Mondol from Tala police station was called in for questioning by the CBI on Saturday. After seven hours of interrogation, he was taken into custody.
Earlier, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer associated with the Kolkata Police, had been arrested and charged with the rape and murder. The body of the junior doctor was discovered in a seminar room at the hospital on August 9, sparking widespread outrage.
CBI sources revealed that Mondol was unable to give satisfactory explanations regarding his involvement after the body was found. As the officer responsible for Tala police station, under whose jurisdiction the hospital falls, Mondol is accused of tampering with the crime scene and delaying the filing of an FIR. Following his arrest, he underwent a medical examination.
Both Ghosh and Mondol’s roles are being closely scrutinized by investigators, who claim that they violated regulations and attempted to alter evidence. They are set to appear before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Sealdah tomorrow, with Ghosh due for another court appearance on September 15.
The victim’s family and junior doctors have accused Ghosh and certain police officers of trying to cover up the crime. One of the key demands of the protesting junior doctors is the resignation or suspension of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.
In addition to Ghosh, vendors Biplav Singha, Sumon Hazra, and Afsar Ali Khan, who served as Ghosh’s additional security, have also been arrested.