Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, was detained for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday afternoon. Ghosh’s detention follows his resignation from the hospital on August 12, amidst allegations of a criminal racket being operated from the facility, where a 31-year-old doctor was found raped and murdered.

The CBI detained Ghosh after the Calcutta High Court advised him to cooperate with the agency. His interrogation at the CBI’s CGO Complex office in Salt Lake extended for more than eight hours. Along with Ghosh, two of his former colleagues — Arunava Dutta Chowdhury, head of the chest department, and Dr. Sanjay Vashisth, the former superintendent of RG Kar Hospital — were also questioned by the investigation team.

The CBI has, to date, questioned around 30 individuals, including doctors, postgraduate students, heads of departments, and staff members. On Friday night, security guards, ward boys, and nurses were also summoned for questioning.

Ahead of his Saturday questioning, Ghosh refuted reports of his arrest and denied any connection with the accused, Sanjay Roy. “The news of my arrest is wrong. I don’t know the accused Sanjay Roy. No confrontation has happened,” Ghosh told the media.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that the CBI is focusing on understanding the sequence of events leading to the doctor’s brutal killing. The agency is also probing whether any underhand dealings occurred at RG Kar Hospital.

Family members of the deceased informed the CBI that the victim had been under significant pressure while at RG Kar. Investigators are now seeking answers from Ghosh regarding his knowledge of the pressure the victim faced and whether any complaints were lodged with the college authorities about her situation.

The CBI is also examining the overall management of the hospital, including security measures for doctors and patients, and the use of the seminar hall where the crime took place.

Sanjay Roy, a 31-year-old civic volunteer, has been arrested by the police for allegedly raping and killing the doctor. However, the victim’s family and colleagues have expressed dissatisfaction with the police investigation. The CBI is currently awaiting forensic and DNA reports to determine if additional individuals were involved in the crime.