RG Kar financial case: Sandip Ghosh skips ED summons for 2nd time
Synopsis
Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, has now skipped ED summons twice — sending his lawyer on both occasions. With the Supreme Court bail intact and both CBI and ED probes active, his repeated non-appearances are set to sharpen the legal pressure on him in one of West Bengal's most politically charged corruption cases.
Key Takeaways
Sandip Ghosh failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate at its Salt Lake, Kolkata office on 10 November — his second consecutive no-show .
His first summons was on 4 November ; on both occasions he sent his counsel instead of appearing personally.
The CBI arrested Ghosh in 2024 ; the Supreme Court granted him bail on 15 October this year.
The Calcutta High Court had earlier rejected his bail, warning of risk of evidence tampering and witness influence.
Alleged irregularities involve illegal transfer of government hospital funds to vendors and contractors linked to Ghosh, registered by CBI on 24 August 2024 .
Former R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its Salt Lake office in Kolkata for questioning in the multi-crore financial irregularities case — marking the second consecutive time he has skipped an ED summons. His counsel appeared at the office in his place.
Second No-Show at ED Office
Ghosh had been directed to present himself at the ED's Salt Lake office by 11 am on Tuesday. He did not arrive by the time reports were filed, sending his lawyer instead. This follows an earlier summons on 4 November, when Ghosh similarly did not appear and instead sought additional time from ED officials to comply. The repeated non-appearances are likely to intensify scrutiny of his conduct under the ongoing money-laundering probe.
Parallel CBI and ED Probes
The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are conducting simultaneous and independent investigations into the alleged financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CBI arrested Ghosh in 2024 in connection with the case. He was held in CBI custody before being remanded to judicial custody. The Supreme Court granted him bail on 15 October this year. The ED's renewed summons brought the financial misconduct angle back under public scrutiny.
How the Scandal Came to Light
The alleged financial irregularities — involving several crores of rupees — surfaced in the aftermath of the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor on the hospital premises in August 2024, a case that triggered widespread public outrage and large-scale protests across West Bengal. It was alleged that government funds were illegally transferred from the hospital's bank account to accounts of vendors and contractors with close ties to Ghosh. The CBI's Kolkata Anti-Corruption Branch registered a case on 24 August 2024 and subsequently arrested him.
Courts on Bail and Risk of Interference
Ghosh had approached the Calcutta High Court for bail, but a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh rejected his plea. The court observed that the alleged diversion of public money had directly impacted healthcare services and expressed concern that Ghosh's political and administrative influence posed a tangible risk of evidence tampering and witness interference. He then moved the Supreme Court, which granted bail on 15 October this year. The ED's questioning, now twice deferred, is intended to map the financial transactions linked to the institution.
What Happens Next
With Ghosh having now skipped two consecutive ED summons, the agency may consider invoking stricter legal provisions to compel his appearance. The ED probe will likely examine the money trail linking hospital funds to alleged beneficiaries. Any fresh non-compliance could strengthen the agency's case for escalated action, including an application for cancellation of his Supreme Court bail.
Point of View
Granted despite the High Court's pointed concerns about evidence tampering, has arguably emboldened this posture. What is striking is that the original financial scandal was itself uncovered only because a horrific crime forced investigators onto the premises; without that tragedy, the alleged diversion of public healthcare funds might have remained buried. The ED now faces a credibility test: if repeated non-compliance by a bailed-out accused attracts no coercive consequence, it sets a troubling precedent for high-profile white-collar cases in India.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sandip Ghosh skip the ED summons?
Sandip Ghosh did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate at its Salt Lake, Kolkata office on 10 November, sending his counsel in his place. No official reason for his personal absence was stated; this is the second consecutive summons he has not complied with.
What is the RG Kar financial irregularities case?
The case involves alleged illegal transfer of government funds from R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital's bank account to vendors and contractors linked to former principal Sandip Ghosh. It came to light after the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor on the premises in August 2024, prompting the CBI's Kolkata Anti-Corruption Branch to register a case on 24 August 2024.
What is Sandip Ghosh's current legal status?
Ghosh was arrested by the CBI in 2024, held in CBI and subsequently judicial custody, and was granted bail by the Supreme Court on 15 October this year. The Calcutta High Court had earlier rejected his bail plea, citing risks of evidence tampering and witness influence.
Are the CBI and ED probing the same case?
The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate are conducting parallel and simultaneous — but independent — investigations into the financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. The CBI focuses on corruption and criminal misconduct, while the ED's probe covers money-laundering angles linked to the alleged financial transactions.
What could happen if Ghosh continues to skip ED summons?
If Ghosh keeps ignoring summons, the ED may invoke coercive provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to compel his appearance. Persistent non-compliance could also give the agency grounds to seek cancellation of his Supreme Court-granted bail.
