The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, summoned Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, for questioning in the multi-crore financial irregularities case linked to the state-run institution. Ghosh was directed to appear at the ED's office in Salt Lake, on Kolkata's northern outskirts, though the agency reportedly allowed him some additional time to present himself.

Parallel Probes by ED and CBI

The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have been conducting parallel but distinct investigations into the alleged financial irregularities at the medical college. The CBI arrested Ghosh in 2024, initially holding him in agency custody before he was remanded to judicial custody. The Supreme Court subsequently granted him bail on 15 October 2026, and the ED's fresh summons has now brought his legal troubles back into the spotlight.

How the Scandal Came to Light

The alleged financial irregularities — involving several crores of rupees — came to public attention in the wake of the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor on the hospital premises in August 2024. The gruesome incident triggered widespread outrage and large-scale protests across West Bengal and beyond. Investigators subsequently alleged that government funds had been illegally transferred from the hospital's bank account to accounts belonging to influential vendors and contractors with close ties to Ghosh. The CBI's Kolkata Anti-Corruption Branch registered a case on 24 August 2024 and arrested the former principal.

Court Orders and Bail Battle

Ghosh approached the Calcutta High Court seeking bail, but a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh rejected the plea. The judge observed that the alleged diversion of public money had directly damaged healthcare services available to ordinary citizens. The court also flagged the risk that Ghosh's political and administrative influence could lead to evidence tampering and witness intimidation if he were released. Ghosh then moved the Supreme Court, which ultimately granted him bail on 15 October 2026.

What the ED Questioning Could Reveal

The ED's summons is focused on the money trail — specifically, financial transactions linked to the hospital that may constitute proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This is a separate but complementary track to the CBI's corruption probe. Notably, the ED's investigation could encompass a wider network of beneficiaries beyond those already named in the CBI case. The agency's questioning of Ghosh is expected to probe the flow of funds from hospital accounts to private vendors and contractors.

Significance of the Case

The RG Kar case sits at the intersection of institutional corruption and the safety of healthcare workers — two issues that galvanised nationwide attention in 2024. This comes amid broader scrutiny of financial governance in state-run medical institutions in West Bengal. The outcome of both the ED and CBI probes is being closely watched by civil society groups, medical associations, and political opponents of the state government. How the investigations proceed — and whether further arrests follow — will shape the legal and political landscape in the months ahead.