Kolkata rape-murder: CBI given additional charge by HC to probe financial irregularities in RG Kar Hospital

The West Bengal government faced another setback on Friday as the Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation into alleged financial irregularities in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during the tenure of former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh to the CBI. 

Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj directed that all pertinent documents and information be handed over to the central agency by 10 am on Saturday. Previously, the state government had established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations. 

The court delivered the verdict while hearing a petition submitted by Dr Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He had approached the high court on Wednesday, requesting an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Dr Ghosh. 

Dr Ali claimed before the court that about two years ago, he had filed a complaint at the Anti-Corruption Branch of the state government against Dr Ghosh. The former deputy super stated that he had reported the same to the vigilance department in 2023 as well. 

The Calcutta High Court wanted to know why the state government had not acted on Dr Ali’s complaint and formed a SIT a year ago before giving CBI the charge of further investigation into the matter. 

Meanwhile, the central agency on Friday received the nod from the local Sealdah ACJM court for the polygraph test of Sanjoy Ray, the main accused in the alleged rape and murder case of the trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Ray was sent to 14-day judicial custody. 

In the case, the CBI had produced Dr Ghosh and five others, including four staff of the hospital and one civic volunteer considered close to the accused, before the same court on Thursday, appealing for their polygraph test as well. The court granted CBI the permission on Friday. 

The Calcutta High Court refused to intervene in the students’ march to Nabana, the state secretariat, scheduled for August 27th to protest the RG Kar incident. The West Bengal government had attempted to stop the march, claiming that the organisers had not secured police permission.

However, the court dismissed the government’s request and instructed the state to submit an affidavit on the guidelines for the protest program.

On the other hand, the students and doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who are persisting with their protest despite the Supreme Court’s appeal to resume work, visited the CBI office to inquire about the investigation’s progress.

Following their discussion with the central agency, the protesters will hold a meeting among themselves to decide their next course of action.