Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of Kolkata’s renowned RG Kar Medical College, is facing a turbulent time following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He was taken into custody on September 2nd, along with three others, in connection with allegations of financial irregularities at the medical college and hospital.
Ghosh’s first night in CBI custody was reportedly marked by restlessness and anxiety. According to sources quoted by India Today, he remained awake throughout the night, unable to sleep. He also requested a vegetarian meal due to the observance of Kali Puja, a significant Hindu festival.
The CBI has confined Ghosh to a lock-up on the 14th floor of the building where its Anti-Corruption Branch operates. Four armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are stationed outside the lock-up, ensuring tight security. Ghosh is expected to remain in custody until the next hearing, scheduled for September 10th, when he will be presented before the Alipore Judges Court.
Adding to Ghosh’s legal woes, he has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the Calcutta High Court’s order that handed over the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities from the state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI. This order was issued by the High Court on August 23rd. Ghosh’s petition, filed through his advocate Siddhartha Chowdhury, is slated for hearing before a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on September 6th.
In a separate development, the West Bengal health department suspended Ghosh on Tuesday, September 5th. The order stated that the suspension was due to the ongoing criminal investigation against him.
The arrest and subsequent events have sent shockwaves through the medical community in Kolkata and have heightened public scrutiny of the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. The Supreme Court’s decision on Ghosh’s petition will be closely watched, as it could significantly impact the course of the investigation and the legal proceedings against him.
