R.G. Kar Scandal: Bengal Approves Charges Against Sandip Ghosh
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Synopsis
The West Bengal government has granted the no-objection certificate to initiate charges against Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College, following his arrest by the CBI for financial irregularities.
Key Takeaways
- West Bengal government issues NOC for charges against Sandip Ghosh.
- CBI arrested Ghosh for multi-crore financial misconduct.
- Investigation reports submitted to Calcutta High Court.
- ED conducts parallel inquiry into money laundering.
- Charges include tender manipulation and organ trafficking.
Kolkata, Jan 28 (NationPress) The West Bengal government has officially issued the no-objection certificate (NOC) to initiate the process of framing charges and the subsequent trial against Sandip Ghosh, the former and controversial principal of the state-operated R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
He was apprehended by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concerning the multi-crore financial irregularities involving the medical institution.
This update was presented by the CBI attorney during a session at a single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday.
Reports indicate that the state government granted the NOC on Monday evening.
Consequently, the single judge bench presided over by Tirthankar Ghosh has mandated the completion of the charges-framing process and the commencement of the trial within a week.
On Tuesday, the CBI also delivered a progress report regarding the investigation in a sealed envelope to the Calcutta High Court.
The CBI attorney further informed the court that their investigation is nearing completion.
In addition to the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also conducting a simultaneous investigation into the financial discrepancies at R.G. Kar.
While the CBI began its inquiry following an order from the Calcutta High Court, the ED initiated a suo motu investigation into the money laundering aspect after filing an enforcement case information report (ECIR).
In total, five individuals have been named by the CBI in its charge sheet. They include Sandip Ghosh, his assistant and bodyguard Afsar Alir, private contractors Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra, and a junior doctor Ashish Pandey. All are currently in judicial custody. The key allegations in the case involve manipulation of the tendering process at R.G. Kar, conducting infrastructure work through private contractors while circumventing the state public works department for substantial commission, illegal disposal of bio-medical waste from the hospital, and selling organs from unidentified bodies arriving at the R.G. Kar morgue for post-mortem at inflated prices in the black market.
