Sandip Ghosh, former Principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, has been suspended by West Bengal's Health Minister following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). His suspension comes after a series of alleged financial irregularities during his tenure at the college. Ghosh, arrested in connection with these irregularities, has been placed in police custody for eight days, despite the CBI's request for a 10-day remand.
Arrest of three associates
Alongside Ghosh, three other individuals were also arrested: Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara, vendors supplying medicine to the hospital, and Afsar Ali, a security guard. These arrests are part of the ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct at RG Kar Medical College.
Allegations and investigation
The case against Sandip Ghosh was initiated following a petition by former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, Akhtar Ali. The allegations include illegal sale of unclaimed corpses, trafficking of biomedical waste, and accepting commissions for awarding contracts to suppliers of medicine and medical equipment. Additionally, Ghosh has been accused of pressuring students to pay bribes of up to Rs 8 lakh to pass their exams.
Previous controversies and IMA suspension
Sandip Ghosh has already faced suspension from the Indian Medical Association. His prior appointment to Calcutta National Medical College was met with significant backlash, leading to students locking him out of the Principal's office. These events unfolded before the Supreme Court's intervention.
CBI's parallel investigation
The financial irregularities case was transferred to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court as part of a parallel investigation. The CBI, which is also in Kolkata to investigate a separate rape-murder case, conducted a search at Ghosh's residence on August 25, reportedly finding substantial evidence. Ghosh has also undergone two rounds of polygraph tests related to the rape-murder case.
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