Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is facing further scrutiny as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a case of financial irregularities during his tenure. This development comes as the CBI continues to investigate the murder of a trainee doctor whose body was discovered on the hospital premises earlier this month.
The CBI took over the financial misconduct probe from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the state, following an order from the Calcutta High Court. The court’s directive was in response to a petition filed by Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College, who sought an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into alleged financial malpractices at the institution.
Sandip Ghosh resigned from his position as principal of RG Kar Medical College just two days after the tragic death of the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9. However, in a move that sparked controversy, he was swiftly appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital by the West Bengal government. This decision led to widespread protests from students and drew sharp criticism from the Calcutta High Court, which questioned the rationale behind his quick reappointment. The court subsequently ordered Ghosh to take “long leave,” questioning how he could step down from one position only to be reassigned almost immediately.
On August 20, Kolkata Police registered a corruption case against Ghosh following the formation of an SIT by the West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to investigate the allegations of financial misconduct at RG Kar Medical College since 2021. The SIT has since handed over all relevant documents to the CBI, which has now re-registered the First Information Report (FIR).
Ghosh has already been questioned for nearly 88 hours by the CBI as part of the ongoing investigation. The CBI has been granted permission by the Calcutta High Court to conduct a polygraph test on Ghosh and five others, including the main accused in the trainee doctor’s murder case, Sanjay Roy.
The CBI has been given a three-week deadline to submit a progress report on its investigations, which is due on September 17.
The horrific murder of the trainee doctor, which occurred during her 36-hour duty shift, has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of women in the workplace. Junior doctors across Kolkata have taken to the streets, demanding stronger laws to protect healthcare professionals from violence and misconduct.
