A day after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation over "financial irregularities" at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the state-run medical facility, was remanded to an eight-day CBI custody by a Kolkata court on Tuesday. Besides Ghosh, three others have also been sent to CBI custody in connection with the alleged financial misconduct at RG Kar Hospital.
Arguing there is a "large nexus" involved in the corruption case that needs to be thoroughly investigated, the CBI had sought 10-day custody for the four suspects. "We have just arrested four people. There is a large nexus that needs to be exposed, and hence we are asking for their interrogation. We need their custody to unearth the entire nexus," the CBI told Alipore Judges court, Hindustan Times reported.
On Monday, the federal agency had arrested Ghosh, his security guard Afsar Ali, and two hospital vendors Suman Hazara and Biplav Singh, who used to supply materials to the hospital, where the 31-year-old trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered last month. Ghosh was arrested on the 15th day of his questioning by the CBI.
The CBI has filed an FIR against Ghosh and slapped section 120B of the IPC (criminal conspiracy) which is to be read with section 420 IPC (cheating and dishonesty) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The cases read together account for cognizable offences and are non-bailable in nature, PTI reported.
CBI Probe & Allegations Against Ghosh
The Calcutta High Court had ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital from the state-constituted SIT to the CBI. This development took place in response to a petition filed by former deputy superintendent of the facility, Dr Akhtar Ali, who requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into multiple counts of alleged financial misconduct at the medical facility during Ghosh's tenure.
In his plea before the high court, Ali accused Ghosh of illegal sale of unclaimed corpses, clearing tenders against commission paid by medicine and medical equipment suppliers, and trafficking of biomedical waste. He also alleged that students were forced to pay amounts ranging between Rs.5 and 8 lakhs to pass exams at the medical college.
The CBI has also filed cases against various entities, including M/s Ma Tara Traders, M/s Eshan Café, and M/s Khama Louha, in connection with the corruption case.
The federal agency conducted a day-long search operation at Ghosh’s residence. He has also undergone polygraph tests in connection to both the alleged financial irregularities and the ongoing investigation into the Kolkata junior doctor's murder. Amid the ongoing probe against him, the Indian Medical Association had also suspended Ghosh's membership as Vice President of IMA's Calcutta branch.