Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following an extensive two-week questioning. His arrest is connected to allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure, which the CBI is investigating in conjunction with the rape and murder case of a female doctor at the hospital.
The doctor’s body was discovered on August 9, sparking significant scrutiny over Ghosh’s role as the head of the institution. The Supreme Court had criticized Ghosh for not immediately reporting the incident to the police. After resigning under public pressure, Ghosh was controversially transferred to another hospital just hours later, raising further concerns about the state government’s involvement. The Calcutta High Court criticized this move, suggesting that Ghosh should have been placed on extended leave instead.
The CBI, which took over the investigation into the rape and murder case following a High Court order, began questioning Ghosh on August 16. Each session lasted between 10 to 14 hours. On August 25, the CBI also began investigating allegations of financial misconduct against Ghosh, conducting a search of his residence. They reported gathering substantial evidence. Ghosh has undergone two polygraph tests as part of the investigation.
In a related development, former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, Akhtar Ali, has appealed to the High Court for an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate into alleged financial misconduct. Ali accused Ghosh of various illegal activities, including the sale of unclaimed corpses, trafficking of biomedical waste, fraudulent tender practices, and extortion from students for passing exams.
Ghosh has been suspended by the Indian Medical Association, and his subsequent appointment to Calcutta National Medical College was met with student protests, including an incident where students locked him out of his office.
