Today, On 22nd August, The Calcutta High Court asked the state government to determine whether the CBI or SIT should investigate allegations against Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Hospital. The court was hearing a plea from Akhtar Ali, the hospital’s former Deputy Superintendent, who accused Dr. Ghosh of committing serious illegalities during his tenure at the college.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court, On Thursday, requested the West Bengal government to clarify whether the investigation into financial irregularities alleged against the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, would be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the state.
The court’s directive came while hearing a petition from Akhtar Ali, the hospital’s former Deputy Superintendent, who has accused Dr. Ghosh of serious misconduct during his tenure.
Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, presiding as the single judge, noted that his role is to determine which agency will handle the investigation, without delving into the actual merits of the allegations.
The judge stated,
“I’m not addressing the allegations. My focus is solely on determining who will conduct the investigation whether it will be the SIT or the CBI. That is what this court will decide, if it has the authority to do so,”
The Court scheduled to hear the matter at 12 PM tomorrow.
Akhtar also requested police protection, expressing concern that his complaints against Dr. Ghosh have endangered his life. In response, the Court asked Akhtar to provide his phone number so he can be contacted and afforded police protection.
The Court also made it clear that it would not engage with the specifics of the financial irregularity complaints.
The single-judge emphasized,
“I will not hear anything related to the content of the complaints. Why should I? The investigation is already underway. I will hear you, but not on the content of the complaints,”
Dr. Sandip Ghosh recently came under public scrutiny following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, an incident that has ignited nationwide protests and outrage.
Although Ghosh resigned from his position shortly after the incident, he was swiftly appointed as the principal of another college. This decision by the state criticized by another bench of the Calcutta High Court, which questioned the rationale behind what seemed like a “reward” for Ghosh, despite the serious allegations against him, including accusations of victim-blaming.
According to Akhtar Ali’s petition, Ghosh involved in several illegal activities, such as the improper handling of dead bodies, the resale of biowaste in the open market, and the misuse of public funds. Ali further claimed that a complaint detailing these allegations was submitted to the West Bengal Anti-Corruption Bureau, but no action was taken against Ghosh.
The plea asserted,
“Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh has the backing of political leaders and high-ranking officials in this state, which is why he is being protected, even at the risk of public safety. The issues at hand are serious and pose a threat to public health. The state police cannot conduct a fair and impartial investigation due to the involvement of influential individuals. A proper investigation is crucial for the safety of innocent people.”
During today’s hearing, Ali’s counsel pointed out that despite multiple complaints filed since 2023, no action was taken until after the rape and murder incident.
Justice Bhardwaj remarked,
“My concern is who will investigate the irregularities SIT or CBI that’s the concern,”
The Court questioned the Kolkata police’s inaction, asking,
“Why didn’t the police take steps earlier? Suddenly you realize something is wrong, and you’ve asked officers to investigate allegations dating back to 2021. My questions are: what prompted you? Why didn’t you act when informed in 2023, and why are you acting now?”
The State counsel suggested that the issue lay more with the health department than the police.
Read Also: [Doctor’s Rape and Murder Case] Calcutta HC Permits BJP’s 5-Day Protest
The judge responded,
“We are also questioning why the SIT was only formed after the unfortunate event.”
The Court further noted that the State police had already determined that financial irregularities existed.
The judge remarked,
“So, there is no dispute about the fact that financial irregularities existed. Four senior police officers were appointed. The State has concluded that there are clear irregularities,”
To this, the State counsel replied,
“I can’t confirm that. The investigation is still ongoing. There is nothing to show that this was based on the petitioner’s complaints. The SIT was formed on August 21, and the petitioner came to court on August 20. Is it right to come to court at this time?“