Kolkata, 14 July (H.S.) -

A special CBI court in Kolkata on Monday framed charges against former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, along with four others in connection with a major corruption case involving irregularities in the procurement of medical equipment. The trial is set to commence on July 22.

The court ordered proceedings under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 467 and 468 (forgery), as well as provisions under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.

Apart from Ghosh, the agency has named Afzar Ali, Biplab Singh, Suman Hazra, and Ashish Pandey as co-accused in the chargesheet submitted on November 29, 2024. All five are currently in judicial custody.

The case originated from a complaint filed by the former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College. It alleges that over a period of more than three years, large-scale irregularities were committed during the tendering process for medical equipment procurement. The CBI alleges that Ghosh manipulated tenders to benefit close associates and favored bidders.

Dr. Sandip Ghosh was the first to be arrested in the case and was interrogated extensively at the CBI’s Kolkata office. Subsequent arrests included Biplab Singh, Afzar Ali, and Suman Hazra, with Ashish Pandey being the last to be taken into custody.

The corruption case surfaced in the wake of a high-profile criminal investigation at the same hospital. On August 9, 2023, the body of a female medical student was discovered in the seminar hall on the fourth floor of the emergency building. The case was later confirmed as a rape and murder, and a civic volunteer named Sanjay Roy was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The incident prompted deeper scrutiny of the hospital’s administration, leading to revelations of widespread financial misconduct. During the course of that investigation, the CBI also took Sandip Ghosh and then Tala police station in-charge Abhijit Mondal into custody on charges of evidence tampering. Both were granted bail in December 2024 in the rape-murder case, though Ghosh remains in jail in connection with the corruption charges.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh