Kolkata doctor's rape and murder case: Court sends ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, 3 others to 8-day police custody

Former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh was remanded in eight-day police custody by Alipore Judges Court on Tuesday. This followed his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of financial misconduct. Three others were also detained alongside Ghosh, including his security guard and two vendors who supplied materials to the hospital.

The arrest is connected to the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the body of a female medic, a victim of rape and murder, was discovered on August 9. The CBI's investigation stems from the Calcutta High Court's August 23 order, transferring the case from a state-formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the federal agency.

Ghosh was the second person arrested in connection with this case, following the earlier detention of a civic volunteer by the Kolkata Police. The opposition BJP asserted that this development exposed efforts by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government to cover up the former principal's wrongdoings. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh acknowledged that the state health department could have acted sooner to avoid the current situation.


Governor CV Ananda Bose remarked, "This is the beginning of the end," signaling his belief that Ghosh’s arrest marks a critical turning point in the investigation.

The CBI investigation also extends into Ghosh's alleged involvement in illegal activities during his tenure as principal. Allegations include the illegal sale of unclaimed corpses, biomedical waste trafficking, and the awarding of tenders in exchange for kickbacks from suppliers. Students also accused Ghosh of demanding bribes ranging from Rs.5 to 8 lakh for passing exams.

Dr. Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent of the hospital, had filed petitions demanding an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into these financial irregularities, claiming that his prior complaints to the state vigilance commission were ignored.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

(With inputs from agencies)