The West Bengal Health Department took swift action on Tuesday, suspending Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, with immediate effect. This decision comes in the wake of Dr. Ghosh’s arrest and the ongoing criminal investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the state-run facility.
An official order issued by the Health Department stated that Dr. Ghosh’s suspension was mandated under Rule 7(1c) of West Bengal Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1971, citing the ongoing criminal investigation. Earlier on Tuesday, a special CBI court in Kolkata ordered Ghosh and three other individuals – Biplav Singha and Suman Hazar, both vendors, and Afsar Ali, the former principal’s additional security – to be held in CBI custody for eight days. Their arrest on Monday followed a probe by the anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations of corruption and financial misconduct at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The CBI had initially requested a 10-day custody period for the accused, but the special court granted only eight days. All four individuals are scheduled to appear before the Special CBI Court again on September 10. The investigation into Dr. Ghosh’s alleged corrupt practices and financial irregularities at the college and hospital stemmed from a directive issued by a single bench of the Calcutta High Court, which directed the CBI to conduct a thorough probe into the matter.
It’s crucial to note that on August 24, following the orders of the Calcutta High Court, the CBI officially registered an FIR against Dr. Ghosh pertaining to the alleged corruption case.
Meanwhile, Kunal Ghosh, a senior leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), stated that the West Bengal Health Department, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, initiated action against Dr. Ghosh after receiving complaints against him.
In contrast, the BJP, a political opposition party, claimed that Dr. Ghosh’s arrest would expose the TMC government’s alleged attempts to destroy evidence and conceal the wrongdoings committed by the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
