Financial scam case against ex-RG Kar Principal Sandip Ghosh, now on fast track

The Kolkata High Court has given the green light for the charge framing against Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in connection with two separate cases tied to the RG Kar scandal. The court's decision came just 24 hours before a scheduled hearing. Previously, the framing of charges had been delayed due to the Health Department’s failure to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which had stalled the process. The Health Department provided the NOC on Monday evening, clearing the way for the CBI to proceed with charge framing.

Sandip Ghosh had been arrested in connection with two cases of financial corruption related to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. While he was granted bail in one case, he remains in jail in connection with the other ongoing case, which pertains to allegations of financial misconduct and corruption. The CBI filed the charge sheet for the RG Kar case in November 2024, but the lack of an NOC from the Health Department had held up the charge framing. This delay had sparked concern and led to the filing of a petition by lawyer Tarun Jyoti Tiwari in the Kolkata High Court to resolve the issue and expedite the judicial process.

Following the granting of the NOC by the Health Department, the High Court directed the CBI special court to frame charges against Sandip Ghosh and expeditiously conduct the hearings within seven days. The High Court’s ruling ensures that there will be no further delays, with the judicial process now set to proceed promptly. The CBI is expected to take swift action to fast-track the trial. The next hearing in the lower court is scheduled for January 30, 2025, with a directive for the judicial process to begin within a week.

The CBI has indicated that its investigation into the financial corruption case is nearly complete. On Tuesday, the agency submitted a sealed report to the High Court following a case filed by Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College, regarding allegations of financial irregularities. The CBI has assured the court that it will soon conclude its investigation and move forward with the next steps in the legal process.

In a related development, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the pace of its investigation into the corruption case. The ED informed the court that the investigation was still ongoing. In response, the High Court instructed the ED to complete its investigation promptly and set a deadline for the judicial process to begin within a week of the next hearing. The court’s directive has established a clear timeline for action, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

The investigation into the financial corruption at RG Kar Medical College came to light following the rape and murder case of a young female doctor at the hospital. On August 23, 2024, the CBI was tasked with investigating the financial irregularities at the medical college and hospital. After extensive questioning, Sandip Ghosh was arrested on September 2, 2024. According to the CBI, Ghosh engaged in systematic fraud by manipulating the hospital’s contract-awarding process. He allegedly created fake documents for vendors with whom he had close relationships, ensuring that only specific vendors received contracts. Vendors such as Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra were reportedly given all the contracts, and they set up multiple companies to participate in the bidding process, submitting fake tenders.

Additionally, the CBI has accused Sandip Ghosh of running a recruitment racket, hiring unqualified candidates for house staff positions in exchange for money. The agency claims that Ghosh’s associates collected bribes from these unqualified candidates every month. Those who did not cooperate with Ghosh’s network were allegedly threatened. The charge sheet for the financial corruption case was filed by the CBI on November 29, 2024. While Ghosh was granted bail in the rape and murder case, he remains in jail due to the corruption charges. The judicial process for the financial corruption case is expected to proceed without further delay, with hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.