New Delhi: The horrific murder of a young doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has sparked a wider investigation, revealing a disturbing network of alleged corruption and abuse of power at the state-run facility.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing financial irregularities, has accused the hospital’s former principal, Dr Sandip Ghosh, of manipulating the recruitment process for medical house staff to favour his preferred candidates.
According to the CBI, Dr Ghosh introduced a system of interviews with no transparent panel of interviewers, releasing only the final marks before recruitment, Times of India reported. The agency alleges that Ghosh prepared a list of house staff that excluded deserving medical trainees, raising concerns about favouritism and potential wrongdoing.
The investigation has also uncovered alleged financial irregularities involving Ghosh and his security guard’s wife, Nargis. The CBI claims that Nargis’ company, Eshan Cafe, was awarded the hospital canteen contract in violation of rules. The deal, allegedly awarded in a predetermined manner, saw a handwritten bid amount on the documents, raising further suspicion.
Ghosh’s alleged criminal nexus extends beyond the canteen deal. The CBI has accused him of working with two vendors, known to him from his previous posting at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, to secure contracts at RG Kar. These vendors were allegedly favoured for supplying materials to the hospital, resulting in financial losses for the government.
The investigation has also unearthed evidence that Ghosh’s security guard was involved in selling the hospital’s biomedical waste, further adding to the alleged network of corruption. “These (two) vendors were known to Ghosh since he was with the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. We have found that they granted the contracts of RGKMC&H (RG Kar Medical College and Hospital) only because of their proximity with Ghosh,” the officer told news agency PTI.
The CBI’s investigation shedding light on the alleged financial irregularities and abuse of power at RG Kar is ongoing as the investigation agency is trying to unearthen the case.