The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, on Monday. His arrest is a major development in an ongoing investigation that has caused upheaval in one of Kolkata’s most prestigious medical institutions.
Initially facing allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure, Dr. Ghosh’s situation worsened following the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9. The crime occurred in a hospital seminar hall, generating national outrage and sending shockwaves through the medical community. A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested immediately after the incident. However, the investigation has since evolved to uncover complexities involving financial mismanagement and the tragic death.
Reports of financial discrepancies were brought forward by former deputy superintendent Dr. Akhtar Ali, widening the scope of the probe. Dr. Ghosh was questioned daily for 15 days at the CBI’s Salt Lake office. The CBI’s anti-corruption wing, based at Nizam Palace in Kolkata, decided to arrest him based on substantial evidence linking him to both financial and criminal aspects of the case.
Dr. Ghosh faces serious charges. Mismanagement complaints during his tenure were numerous, with Dr. Ali filing multiple grievances highlighting these issues. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) responded by suspending Dr. Ghosh’s membership, significantly tarnishing his professional reputation. Once a powerful figure as the vice principal of IMA’s Calcutta branch, Dr. Ghosh’s future now appears uncertain, particularly following the swift and unanimous suspension by the IMA’s disciplinary committee, led by National President Dr. RV Asokan.
The West Bengal government had already placed Dr. Ghosh on leave soon after the trainee doctor’s murder came to light. The CBI’s rigorous investigation has further deepened the crisis at RG Kar Medical College, marking a dark chapter in the institution’s history.
