Kolkata, 10 November (H.S.) : Following a summons by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in connection with the alleged financial corruption at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the former principal of the institution, Sandip Ghosh, arrived at the ED office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake on Tuesday afternoon. He had been summoned once before, but he had written a letter to the ED seeking more time to appear. Subsequently, the central investigative agency issued a second summons to him.

It is noteworthy that allegations of financial irregularities came to light following the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital. Based on these allegations, the Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested Sandip Ghosh. Later, another central agency, the ED, also initiated a probe into the financial aspects. The ED alleges that a large sum of money deposited from the RG Kar Hospital accounts into contractors' accounts was systematically siphoned off and embezzled. It is alleged that in collusion with the contractors, checks were issued in the names of their close associates, from which funds were either withdrawn or transferred to other associate organizations and later cashed out. The central investigative agency claims that this method was used to conceal the crime. Sandip Ghosh's involvement is suspected in this entire matter.

In connection with the investigation of this case, the ED had summoned Sandip Ghosh on November 4. However, he did not appear on that day and sent a letter to the investigators seeking 15 days of time. He had also requested that, if necessary, he should be questioned via video conferencing. But the ED sent him another notice and directed him to appear on Tuesday. Sandip Ghosh was scheduled to appear at 11 am on Tuesday. According to ED sources, he had sent his lawyer to seek an extension again, but the ED refused to grant further time and strictly ordered him to appear on Tuesday itself. Following this, Sandip Ghosh reached the CGO Complex around 1 pm. During this time, he did not answer any questions from the journalists.

Sandip Ghosh had been lodged in jail for nearly two years following his arrest by the CBI. He had filed a bail plea in the Calcutta High Court, which was rejected by Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, stating that he is accused of embezzling government funds, which is directly linked to the health services of the general public. The court had rejected the bail on the apprehension that the accused is influential and could influence witnesses.

Challenging the High Court's decision, he approached the Supreme Court on August 18.

Following Sandip Ghosh's appeal, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Prashant B. Varale granted him bail on October 16. This order was given considering the slow pace of the judicial process and his prolonged incarceration. During his time in prison, since the ED had not shown him as arrested or taken him into custody in this case, there was no hurdle to his release from jail. The ED had filed a chargesheet in this case last February, which also includes the name of Sandip Ghosh.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh