The former principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, faced verbal abuse from an irate crowd near a Kolkata court yesterday. Among the crowd, a man attempted to slap Dr. Ghosh, but security personnel quickly intervened and escorted him safely to a vehicle. Dr. Ghosh is currently under intense scrutiny for the hospital administration’s response following the discovery of a 31-year-old doctor’s body, who was raped and murdered while on night duty. The incident, which occurred on August 9 in a seminar hall, has sparked nationwide outrage.
In response to the public outcry, Dr. Ghosh resigned from his position as principal of RG Kar Medical College, stating that he “can’t take the humiliation on social media.” However, within hours of his resignation, the West Bengal government controversially appointed him as the principal of another medical college in Kolkata. This decision has been met with severe criticism, leading the Mamata Banerjee government to suspend Dr. Ghosh on allegations of financial misconduct. The investigation by state police into his actions was subsequently transferred to the CBI, following an order by the Calcutta High Court.
Watch:
Sandeep Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar, was slapped by common people in the court area pic.twitter.com/TBlqP27KzT
— ᴅᴇʙᴀᴊɪᴛ ꜱᴀʀᴋᴀʀ🇮🇳 (@debajits3110) September 3, 2024
Dr. Ghosh was arrested by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch on Monday night, with charges related to corruption and financial misconduct at the state-run hospital. He was brought before the court yesterday and placed in custody for eight days. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on September 10.
Criticism of Dr. Ghosh has been widespread, with the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court both condemning the hospital administration’s handling of the doctor’s rape and murder. During a hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud questioned, “What is the reason the FIR is lodged almost 14 hours after the discovery of the (body). The most important thing is that the principal of the college should have come straightaway to the college and directed the filing of the FIR.”
The Calcutta High Court also expressed concern over why the hospital authorities failed to file a complaint, prompting Kolkata Police to register an unnatural death case. “When the deceased victim was a doctor working in the hospital, it is rather surprising as to why the Principal/hospital did not lodge a formal complaint. This, in our view, was a serious lapse, giving room for suspicion,” the court noted.
Moreover, the court questioned the state’s urgency in appointing Dr. Ghosh as the principal of another college just hours after his resignation, describing the move as exhibiting a “tearing urgency.” Dr. Ghosh’s former colleague at RG Kar Medical College has also accused him of corruption, filing multiple allegations in the High Court, with speculation linking the corruption charges to the doctor’s death.