Former Principal of RG Kar Medical College Involved in Financial Misconduct and Illegal Appointments: CBI

Kolkata: On Tuesday, 3rd September, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed a special court in Alipore that Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was involved in siphoning off funds and making 84 illegal appointments between 2022 and 2023. His arrest, along with security guard Afsar Ali Khan (44) and hospital vendors Suman Hazara (46) and Biplav Singha (52), followed an investigation into financial irregularities.

Illegal Appointments and Flawed Procedures According to the CBI, Sandip Ghosh bypassed proper procedures for the appointment of house staff, selecting 84 candidates without following the established rules. For the year 2024, a 13-member committee was formed to select house staffers for MBBS students, and the necessary documents, including merit lists and resolutions, were duly signed by the committee members and Ghosh.

However, the CBI highlighted discrepancies in the appointments made during 2022 and 2023, noting that documents from these years did not contain the required signatures or detailed calculation of marks. The selection process for those years was non-transparent, with only final marks and selection orders provided, lacking the proper resolution or approval of the committee.

Siphoning of Funds Through Tender Mismanagement The CBI further revealed that Sandip Ghosh was involved in siphoning off funds through a manipulation of tenders. He reportedly showed undue favor to M/s Khama Louha by awarding space for a café due to the influence of Chandan Louha. Additionally, firms such as M/s Maa Tara Traders, M/s Hazra Medical, and Nisha Enterprises were awarded contracts through questionable means, with amounts kept just below ₹1 lakh to avoid a formal tender process.

Multiple bills were seized showing amounts slightly under ₹1 lakh, and in other instances, amounts were deliberately kept below ₹10,000 to bypass quotation requirements.

Timeline of Investigation and Previous Allegations In August, Dr. Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College, moved the Calcutta High Court, requesting a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into financial misconduct at the hospital. Ali had accused Ghosh of several illegal activities, including trafficking biomedical waste, selling unclaimed dead bodies, and taking commissions from medicine suppliers.

Additionally, Ali alleged that Ghosh charged ₹5 to ₹8 lakhs from students in exchange for passing them in exams. Prior to the CBI’s involvement, the case was being investigated by a State-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The CBI had also previously raided Sandip Ghosh's residence and subjected him to a polygraph test, along with other accused, including Sanjay Roy and four doctors, as part of the investigation into financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. The case continues to unfold as the CBI uncovers more evidence of corruption and mismanagement at the hospital.

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