RG Kar Ex-Principal Sandip Ghosh Had ‘Criminal Nexus’ With Co-Accused: CBI on Corruption Case

CBI alleged ex-principle of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh, had criminal dealings with three co-accused for financial gain.

Sandip Ghosh was suspended after his arrest by the CBI. (Image: PTI)

Source : PTI

Kolkata News: Dr Sandip Ghosh, ex-principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, had a ‘criminal nexus’ with other co-accused for ‘wrongful gain', according to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the rape and murder of a junior doctor and alleged financial irregularities at West Bengal government-run institution. CBI, in its submissions to a special court, claimed that two vendors, who Ghosh knew from the time he was posted at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, reportedly benefited from the award of hospital contracts after he moved to Kolkata.

The agency levelled these charges before the special court in Alipur on September 3, where Ghosh, along with three others accused, was produced following their arrest, according to a report by The Indian Express. Apart from Ghosh, Biplab Singha, Suman Hazra, and Afsar Ali are in CBI custody in connection with the corruption case. 

As per the report, CBI alleged that a firm belonging to GHosh's security aide Afsar Ali’s wife was awarded a cafe contract by the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. It also said that two vendors (Singha and Hazra), whom Ghosh knew from his days in Murshidabad, ‘benefited’ from the award of hospital contracts after he moved to Kolkata. 

“Evidences collected during the investigation conducted so far have revealed that Dr Sandip Ghosh, in criminal nexus with other co-accused persons, by way of illegal means, caused wrongful loss to the Government and corresponding wrongful gain to himself and other accused person," the agency said, as per the IE report. 

As per the agency, it probe revealed that vendors Singha and Hazra are close acquaintances of Ghosh. "After his transfer to R G Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH), (Ghosh) brought both these vendors to RGKMCH where they started and continued with the supply of materials. It is revealed that they all have been frequently in touch with each other which corroborates the allegation of criminal nexus as in the FIR,” the CBI said.

The agency is also probing Ali's role in the alleged selling of biomedical waste.  “Dr. Sandip Ghosh favoured his close aide Afsar Ali Khan in the award of a contract of a cafe on the premises of RGKMCH. The said contract was signed between RGKMCH and M/s Eshan Cafe. Nargis Khanum w/o Afsar Ali Khan is the proprietor of this firm. However, Afsar Ali Khan manages all the affairs of this firm. Contract to M/s Eshan Cafe was awarded in a predetermined manner as it was the only eligible firm fulfilling the technical criteria to participate in the tender out of the total 4 bidders,” it told the court.

Ghosh's Tenure 

From 2016 to 1018, Ghosh was at the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. He was transferred to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital toward the end of 2018 and remained there until February 2021 before taking charge of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. He was moved back to the Murshidabad Institute in September 2023, but returned to the RG Kar campus within a month and continued there until the August 9 incident.

#WATCH | West Bengal: ED team leaves from the residence of former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh.

ED conducted a raid at Sandip Ghosh's residence and a few other places today. It had registered a case of PMLA in the financial irregularities case.… pic.twitter.com/gccXcr5Fiq

— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2024

Ghosh resigned on August 12 after massive outrage over a junior doctor's rape and murder inside the hospital premises and was immediately posted to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. The next day, the Calcutta High Court stepped in and made him go on leave. He was suspended after his arrest by the CBI.