CBI Arrests Former Principal of RG Kar Medical College Amid Financial Misconduct Allegations

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Dr. Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, in connection with financial misconduct and the alleged rape and murder of a hospital trainee. This follows a Calcutta High Court directive transferring the probe from a state-constituted SIT to the CBI.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on charges of financial misconduct at the institution, according to officials.

Dr. Ghosh faced extensive questioning over a 15-day period at the CBI's Salt Lake office regarding the alleged rape and murder of an RG Kar post-graduate trainee on August 9. Subsequent to interrogation, he was escorted to the CBI's Nizam Palace office in Kolkata, where he was formally placed under arrest.

This marks the second arrest related to the RG Kar crime, occurring 24 days post-incident. Previously, the Kolkata Police had detained Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, subsequently handing him over to the CBI in connection with the rape and murder case.

The Calcutta High Court, on August 23, mandated the transfer of the investigation on alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar hospital from a state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI.

The order was issued following a petition by Dr. Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent at the facility. Ali had sought an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into multiple financial misconduct allegations during Dr. Ghosh's tenure as principal, which spanned from February 2021 to September 2023, with a brief transfer in October 2023 before he reassumed his position.

Amid public speculation regarding potential links between institutional corruption and the medic's death, Ali alleged Ghosh's involvement in various illicit activities, including illegal corpse sales and biomedical waste trafficking. Ali also claimed students were extorted for exam passes and that his reports to the state vigilance and anti-corruption bodies had been ignored.

Upon the murder revelation, the state government ordered Dr. Ghosh to take leave. Nonetheless, junior doctors and protestors have continued to demand his suspension, accusing the Mamata Banerjee administration of protecting him.

Following the transfer of the case to the CBI, the agency filed an FIR against Ghosh under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating and dishonesty) of the IPC, along with the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These charges are serious and non-bailable, per legal experts.

The CBI also implicated several businesses, including M/s Ma Tara Traders and M/s Eshan Café, in the case. Searches were conducted at Ghosh's Beliaghata residence, and two polygraph tests were administered in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged rape and murder.

(With inputs from agencies.)