After CBI, ED Steps In To Probe RG Kar Financial Irregularities During Sandip Ghosh Tenure

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a money laundering investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered earlier this month.

On Saturday, the CBI named Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in an FIR related to its investigation into alleged financial irregularities during his tenure.

The FIR was filed based on a written complaint from Debal Kumar Ghosh, the special secretary of the state health department.

The central agency has included 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 (as amended in 2018).

Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act addresses the unlawful acceptance of gratification by a public servant. These charges are considered cognizable offences and are non-bailable, according to a senior Calcutta High Court lawyer, as reported by newswire PTI.

Sandip Ghosh served as the principal of the state-run medical facility from February 2021 to September 2023.

He was transferred from the role in October last year but was reinstated within a month. Ghosh continued in the position until the tragic incident when a 31-year-old doctor was found raped and murdered in the seminar hall.

Following the incident, Ghosh was removed from his post but was quickly reinstated by the state government at the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.

In addition to Ghosh, the federal investigators have also 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 shortly after the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to take over the investigation from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Mamata Banerjee government.

This decision followed a petition from Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, who requested that the ED investigate the financial irregularities at the institution.

In his petition to the High Court, Ali accused Sandip Ghosh of illegal activities, including the sale of unclaimed bodies, trafficking of biomedical waste, and awarding tenders in exchange for commissions from suppliers of medicine and medical equipment. He also alleged that students were coerced into paying between Rs 5-8 lakh to pass their exams.