In the ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, on Tuesday, a local court remanded Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the state-run institution, and three others to CBI custody for eight days.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe following allegations of financial misconduct, sought 10-day custody for the accused. The agency argued that a large nexus is involved in the corruption case and that thorough interrogation is necessary to expose the entire network.
The CBI’s move came just a day after the arrest of Ghosh, his security guard, and two vendors who supplied materials to the hospital. These arrests followed the tragic rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the facility last month.
Ghosh has been named in an FIR and charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The investigation into financial misconduct at RG Kar Medical College gained momentum after renewed allegations from Dr. Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent of the hospital.
The Calcutta High Court had previously ordered the transfer of the probe from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI, acting on a petition filed by Dr. Ali. In his plea, Ali accused Ghosh of various financial irregularities, including the illegal sale of unclaimed corpses, trafficking of biomedical waste, and rigging tenders.
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The CBI has conducted a thorough investigation, including a search of Ghosh’s residence and polygraph tests related to both the financial misconduct and the ongoing investigation into the medic’s murder. The agency has also registered cases against several entities, including M/s Ma Tara Traders, M/s Eshan Café, and M/s Khama Louha, in connection with the corruption case.
The eight-day CBI custody of Sandip Ghosh and the others marks a significant step in unraveling the alleged corruption network at RG Kar Medical College. The investigation is expected to continue with the aim of bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring the integrity of the state-run institution.