ED Raids Uncover Financial Irregularities at RG Kar Medical College

The Enforcement Directorate conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, and his associates, uncovering alleged financial irregularities. The investigation followed a Calcutta High Court order transferring the case to the CBI. Concerns link the corruption to a possible death cover-up.

On Friday, officers from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed simultaneous search operations at the residences of Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with three of his associates. This move comes in connection with alleged financial irregularities at the institution, according to an ED officer.

The raids were conducted at Ghosh's home in Beliaghata and at two additional locations in Howrah and Subhasgram. All four individuals, including Ghosh, are currently in CBI custody.

The officer stated that they began the raids around 6.15 a.m. The ED has filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Ghosh, which serves a similar purpose as a First Information Report (FIR) in criminal investigations.

The Calcutta High Court had earlier transferred the investigation into the alleged financial misconduct at the state-run hospital from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI on August 23. This decision followed a petition by Dr. Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of the facility, who sought an ED investigation into multiple allegations of financial wrongdoing during Ghosh's tenure as principal.

Ghosh held the principal position from February 2021 to September 2023. He was transferred from RG Kar in October 2023 but was reinstated within a month. Dr. Ali has suggested that the corruption at RG Kar hospital might be connected to a doctor's death, implying that the deceased may have been aware of the misconduct and possibly threatened to expose it.

(With inputs from agencies.)