RG Kar financial irregularities: ED gets Bengal nod to charge Sandip Ghosh
Synopsis
For months, a mandatory state sanction blocked the ED from framing charges against ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh. With the BJP now in power in West Bengal, that clearance has finally arrived — unlocking a PMLA trial in a case that sits at the intersection of institutional corruption and one of India's most politically charged hospital scandals.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) received West Bengal government approval on 1 July to frame charges against Sandip Ghosh in the RG Kar financial irregularities case.
The sanction had been withheld by the previous TMC government under Mamata Banerjee , stalling the PMLA special court trial.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP had pledged to remove all hurdles in both the financial irregularities case and the August 2024 rape and murder case at the same hospital.
Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra , two media equipment contractors, are also named as accused in the ED's first chargesheet.
Both the ED and the CBI have filed separate chargesheets; the CBI had arrested Ghosh before the ED made a suo motu entry into the probe.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, 1 July received the West Bengal government's formal approval to frame charges against Sandip Ghosh, former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, in the multi-crore financial irregularities case. The green light, long withheld under the previous state administration, clears the path for trial proceedings to resume before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata.
Why the Trial Was Stalled
The charge-framing process had remained suspended for an extended period because the erstwhile All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, led by then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had not granted the mandatory state sanction required to prosecute a senior official who held an important institutional chair. Under applicable rules, the approval of the state health department is a prerequisite before a chargesheet can be acted upon against such an accused — a clearance that was reportedly withheld throughout the previous regime.
BJP Government Removes Hurdles
After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that all obstacles to a speedy investigation would be removed — covering both the R.G. Kar financial irregularities case and the August 2024 rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at the same hospital. The state's decision to grant sanction is a direct follow-through on that commitment.
Key Accused and Chargesheets Filed
The ED had named Sandip Ghosh as one of the prime accused in its first chargesheet in the financial irregularities matter. Two media equipment contractors — Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra — were also named in that chargesheet. Separately, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which initially investigated the case before the ED made a suo motu entry, has also filed its own chargesheet in the matter. Ghosh was originally arrested by the CBI.
What Happens Next
The ED informed the presiding judge of the special PMLA court about the state sanction on Wednesday, formally setting the stage for the charge-framing process to begin. Once charges are framed, full trial proceedings — including examination of witnesses and evidence — can commence. The development is being closely watched given the political sensitivity of the case and its connection to the broader R.G. Kar hospital controversy that triggered mass protests across West Bengal in 2024.
Point of View
Not a judicial one — effectively shielded a named accused from trial for months. The BJP's decision to grant sanction promptly is politically convenient, but it is also the correct legal course. The harder question is whether the trial, once begun, will proceed at a pace commensurate with the public outrage the R.G. Kar case generated — or whether it will settle into the slow rhythm that defines most PMLA proceedings in India.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RG Kar financial irregularities case?
The RG Kar financial irregularities case involves alleged multi-crore financial misconduct at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Both the CBI and the ED have investigated the matter and filed separate chargesheets, with former principal Sandip Ghosh named as a prime accused.
Why were charges against Sandip Ghosh delayed?
Framing charges against Ghosh required mandatory approval from the West Bengal state government, as he held a senior institutional position. The previous TMC government reportedly withheld this sanction, stalling trial proceedings before the special PMLA court.
Who else is named in the ED chargesheet?
Apart from Sandip Ghosh, the ED's first chargesheet named two media equipment contractors — Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra — as accused in the financial irregularities case.
What role did the CBI play in this case?
The CBI was the first agency to investigate the RG Kar financial irregularities and arrested Sandip Ghosh. The ED subsequently made a suo motu entry into the probe and filed its own chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
What happens now that the state sanction has been granted?
With the West Bengal government's approval in place, the special PMLA court can proceed to formally frame charges against Sandip Ghosh, after which full trial proceedings — including witness examination and evidence review — can begin.
