ED to Probe Alleged Financial Irregularities against RG Kar Ex-principal Sandip Ghosh after CBI

Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday filed a case against alleged financial irregularities at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital involving former principal Sandip Ghosh. This action follows a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR that names teh ex-principal in its investigation.

The federal agency has taken cognisance of a CBI FIR to file its Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR, under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The FIR filed by the CBI includes charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, dishonesty, and violations of Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act related to financial misconduct at RG Kar Medical College. These charges are considered cognisable offences and are non-bailable.

Earlier on Monday, CBI officers began questioning Ghosh, and Sanjay Vashisth, the ex-medical superintendent and vice principal, as part of their ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct at the institution, an agency official reported.

Ghosh, whose residence in Beliaghata was searched by CBI officers on Sunday, appeared at the central agency's Salt Lake office on Monday morning with files and documents, according to the official.

Vashisth, whose house was also raided, appeared before CBI detectives at Nizam Palace. A professor from the forensic medicine department was also summoned for questioning at the same location, the official added.

"After yesterday's search operations, we have several questions for them," the officer told.

On Sunday, the CBI conducted simultaneous search operations at the residences of Ghosh, Vashisth, and 13 others in and around Kolkata in connection with their investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at the medical establishment, officials said.

The CBI’s anti-corruption unit also searched the homes and offices of individuals involved in supplying materials for the management and care of patients.

According to a complaint lodged by Akhtar Ali, former deputy superintendent of RGKMCH, Ghosh, during his tenure as principal, along with his associates, issued tenders for the construction of food stalls, cafes, canteens, and urinals without the required approval from the health department and the college council.

The initial probe revealed that three traders were awarded these "illegal" tenders, the officer stated.

In a separate incident, a postgraduate trainee woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9, leading to the arrest of a Kolkata Police civic volunteer.

This gruesome crime sparked nationwide protests by doctors and citizens.

Following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, the CBI registered cases to investigate both the killing and the alleged financial irregularities.