The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the rape and murder of a doctor and alleged financial irregularities at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, has claimed in a special court that former Principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh made 84 illegal appointments in 2022 and 2023 and was involved in fund misappropriation.
On September 3, the CBI presented this evidence in the Alipore Special Court, where Dr. Ghosh, along with three other accused—Biplab Singha, Suman Hazra, and Officer Ali—was brought before the court. All four are currently in CBI custody.
Dr. Ghosh had taken a transfer to Murshidabad Medical College in September 2023 after assuming the role of Principal at R G Kar. Within a month, he returned to R G Kar Medical College and remained there until the rape and murder incident on August 9. On August 12, he resigned and was immediately posted to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. The next day, the Calcutta High Court intervened and placed him on leave. After his arrest, he was suspended.
The CBI told the court, “Dr. Sandip Ghosh bypassed procedures to directly appoint his preferred staff without following any transparent method. The primary aim of these irregularities seems to be selecting his favored candidates. For 2024, a 13-member committee was formed to handle selection, merit lists, and consultations for MBBS house staff.”
“Documents such as resolutions and final merit scores were signed by all committee members, and the final order of selection staff was signed by Dr. Sandip Ghosh, Principal of R G Kar Medical College. However, the documents for the 2022 and 2023 selections lack detailed resolutions and score calculations. They only include the final scores and the final order for the selection of 84 candidates. Committees were formed for the selection processes, but signatures of committee members are missing from the mark sheets and other documents.”
Regarding financial irregularities, the CBI said, “Examples surfaced during the investigation that confirm collusive practices in tender management and subsequent funds being funneled to the accused. Further investigation is ongoing in this regard.”
“Initial findings revealed that Dr. Sandip Ghosh showed undue favoritism by providing a lease for running a café to M/s Khama Loha under the influence of Chandan Loha. These firms were given several contracts, with amounts just below one lakh rupees to evade the tender process. Several bills have been seized where the amount is slightly below one lakh rupees. Similar instances were noted where amounts were kept just below 10,000 rupees to avoid the tender process,” the agency added.
The CBI stated that it had arrested Dr. Ghosh and the other three accused under “IPC sections 120B/ w 420, 409, 467 and PC Act sections 7 and 13(1)(A) (as amended by the PC Act Amendment Act, 2018)” and requested the inclusion of these sections in the FIR.
Thus, the sections were added to the FIR, according to the CBI.
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