The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Ghosh had sought to challenge a Calcutta High Court decision ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged financial irregularities during his time at the hospital. Currently in CBI custody, Ghosh’s petition argued against the high court’s decision.
The allegations against Ghosh first emerged following the tragic death of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the hospital on August 9th. A former deputy superintendent of the facility, Akhtar Ali, accused Ghosh of financial misconduct and requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate. Ali alleged that Ghosh had illegally sold biomedical waste, including gloves and syringes, to contacts in Bangladesh. This contravened regulations stipulating that such waste must be disposed of by authorized centres for proper recycling.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud stated the court needed to be cautious, acknowledging the severity of the biomedical waste issue as a motivating factor behind the high court’s decision to pursue a thorough investigation. The court emphasized the importance of a fair investigation, requesting status reports from the CBI.
While the court clarified that it had not exonerated Ali, it also stated that he could be subject to further inquiry. The court emphasized that the case could not be dismissed on technicalities, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.
The Calcutta High Court had previously ordered the transfer of the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI on August 23rd. The case has drawn national attention due to the murder and alleged rape of the junior doctor at the state-run hospital. The doctor’s body was found with severe injuries in the seminar hall of the hospital’s chest department on August 9th. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day.
