R.G. Kar Medical College Scam: Charge Framing Preparations Commence
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Synopsis
Preparations are underway for the charge framing and trial related to financial misconduct at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The CBI has transferred case documents to the accused's lawyers, with significant hearings scheduled soon.
Key Takeaways
- Charge framing set to begin in Kolkata.
- CBI completed document transfer for case review.
- Calcutta High Court seeks to avoid delays.
- Five key accused presently in custody.
- Allegations include financial irregularities and illegal activities.
Kolkata, Feb 13 (NationPress) Initial steps are in progress to initiate the framing of charges and subsequent trial procedures at a special court in Kolkata regarding the financial irregularities at the state-operated R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has finalized the transfer of all case-related documents to the legal representatives of the five accused individuals for their examination.
This transfer of documents was concluded on Wednesday, and the defense lawyers will review and present their findings to the special court on February 15.
Following this, the legal representatives for both the CBI and the defendants will inform a division bench of the Calcutta High Court about the case's progress, with the hearing set for February 18. Depending on the outcomes from the division bench, the final date for the charge-framing process in the special court may be established, subsequently initiating the trial.
The division bench of the Calcutta High Court has previously remarked that they aim to avoid any unwarranted delays in the charge-framing and trial process, as such delays could undermine public trust in the judicial system.
This week, the Calcutta High Court highlighted that the nature of the scam involving financial irregularities at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital could significantly affect any internal administrative structure within government operations.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Gaurang Kanth from the division bench also noted that the healthcare system in the state might suffer due to the nature of the alleged crime.
The five principal accused, as outlined in the CBI's charge sheet, include Sandip Ghosh, the former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar, his assistant and bodyguard Afsar Ali, private contractors Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra, and junior doctor Ashish Pandey. All five are currently in judicial custody.
The charge sheet identifies Ghosh as the mastermind behind this scam.
The principal allegations in the R.G. Kar financial irregularities case encompass manipulations within the tendering system of the medical institution, execution of infrastructure-related tasks by outsourced contractors while circumventing the state public works department, illegal disposal of biomedical waste from the hospital, and the illicit sale of organs from unidentified bodies brought to the hospital morgue for autopsy at elevated prices.
