RG Kar scam: Sandip Ghosh appears at ED office hours late for questioning
Synopsis
Sandip Ghosh — the former RG Kar Medical College principal who skipped an earlier ED summons on 4 November — finally faced federal investigators on Tuesday, arriving nearly two-and-a-half hours late. With both the CBI and ED now closing in, the case is entering its most consequential legal phase since his Supreme Court bail last month.
Key Takeaways
Sandip Ghosh appeared at the ED's Salt Lake office in Kolkata on 10 November , arriving nearly 2.5 hours late for a scheduled 11 a.m. summons.
He had previously failed to appear on 4 November when first summoned by the ED.
The CBI arrested Ghosh in 2024 ; the Supreme Court granted him bail on 15 October this year.
Alleged irregularities involve government funds being illegally transferred to accounts of vendors and contractors linked to Ghosh.
The case came to light following the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College in August 2024 .
The CBI and ED are conducting parallel probes — CBI under anti-corruption statutes, ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) .
Former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, arrived at the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Salt Lake office in Kolkata on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, nearly two-and-a-half hours past his scheduled appearance time, as federal investigators pressed ahead with their probe into alleged multi-crore financial irregularities at the state-run institution.
How the Day Unfolded
Ghosh was summoned to appear at 11 a.m., but his counsel reached the ED's Salt Lake office at that hour in his place. Ghosh himself finally walked in a little before 1:30 p.m., proceeding directly inside to face questioning by agency officials. This was not his first no-show — he had earlier been summoned on 4 November and failed to appear on that date, instead requesting additional time from the ED.
Background: Arrest, Bail and Parallel Investigations
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Ghosh in 2024 in connection with the financial irregularities case. He was initially held in CBI custody before being remanded to judicial custody, where he remained for a period. The Supreme Court granted him bail on 15 October this year. The ED and the CBI have been conducting parallel investigations into the alleged irregularities at the college, with the ED's summons bringing the case back sharply into public focus.
What the Allegations Involve
The alleged financial irregularities — involving several crores of rupees — came to light in the wake of the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor on the hospital premises in August 2024, a case that triggered widespread outrage and mass protests across West Bengal and beyond. Investigators allege that government funds were illegally transferred from the hospital's bank account to accounts of influential vendors and contractors with close ties to Ghosh. The CBI's Kolkata Anti-Corruption Branch formally registered a case on 24 August 2024 and subsequently arrested the former principal.
Significance of ED Questioning
The ED's intervention signals that investigators are now pursuing the money-laundering angle alongside the CBI's corruption probe. The agency is reportedly seeking to map financial flows between hospital accounts and private entities. This is a significant escalation: while the CBI focuses on criminal misconduct, the ED's mandate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) could expose a wider network of beneficiaries. Notably, this marks the second central agency to formally interrogate Ghosh since his bail was granted last month.
What Happens Next
Ghosh's questioning is expected to continue as the ED builds its money-laundering case. Any fresh arrest or attachment of assets would represent the next major development. The case remains politically sensitive in West Bengal, with opposition parties closely tracking every development in both the criminal and financial strands of the investigation.
Point of View
Since the alleged fund diversions involved public money routed through official bank accounts. The political fallout in the state is far from over.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sandip Ghosh summoned by the ED?
The ED summoned Ghosh to question him about alleged multi-crore financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Investigators allege that government funds were illegally transferred from the hospital's bank account to private vendors and contractors linked to him.
What happened when Ghosh was first summoned on 4 November?
Ghosh did not appear on 4 November when first summoned, instead requesting additional time from ED officials to appear. He eventually turned up at the ED's Salt Lake office on 10 November, nearly two-and-a-half hours past his scheduled 11 a.m. slot.
Has Sandip Ghosh been arrested before?
Yes. The CBI arrested Ghosh in 2024 following the registration of a case by its Kolkata Anti-Corruption Branch on 24 August 2024. He was held in CBI custody and later in judicial custody before the Supreme Court granted him bail on 15 October this year.
How did the financial scam come to light?
The alleged irregularities surfaced after a junior woman doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College in August 2024, triggering widespread protests. Subsequent scrutiny revealed allegations of illegal fund transfers from the hospital's accounts to entities close to the former principal.
What is the difference between the CBI and ED investigations?
The CBI is investigating criminal misconduct and corruption under its anti-corruption mandate, while the ED is probing the money-laundering angle under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The two agencies are running parallel but separate investigations into the same alleged financial irregularities.
