The West Bengal Health Department has suspended Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. This suspension follows his eight-day remand to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody in connection with an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities at the institution.
Ghosh, along with three others, was apprehended by the CBI on Monday. The arrests are linked to allegations of financial misconduct at the medical college, which has been under intense scrutiny since a tragic incident in August, where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered on the premises.
The investigation into Ghosh’s activities was ordered by a single bench of the Calcutta High Court, which directed the CBI to probe the corruption allegations. Ghosh’s arrest comes amid rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement at the institution, particularly in the wake of the brutal crime that shocked the nation.
Union State Minister Sukanta Majumdar commented on the situation, indicating that Ghosh’s arrest was expected in the corruption case, despite previous uncertainties about his involvement in the separate rape and murder case. In a social media post, Majumdar stated, “The arrest was bound to happen and it was a demand of the people of Bengal… I already had doubts if the CBI could arrest Dr. Sandip Ghosh in the matter of rape-murder due to the lack of evidence, but in the case of corruption, Sandip Ghosh has been arrested, as I had predicted earlier.”
The CBI officially registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Ghosh on August 24, following the Calcutta High Court’s directive. Ghosh served as the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from February 2021 until his transfer in September 2023. However, he returned to his role just a month later, remaining in the position until the shocking incident occurred on August 9, which led to widespread protests and violence across West Bengal.
This case continues to unfold as the investigation progresses, with further developments expected in the coming days.
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