ED Raids Residences of Former RG Kar College Principal and Associates Amid Financial Misconduct Probe

Kolkata : On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations at the residence of Sandeep Ghosh, former principal of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, as well as the homes of three of his close associates. The raids, part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the institution, took place at Ghosh’s residence in Beliaghata and at two other locations in Howrah and Subhashgram. An ED official confirmed, “We arrived at these locations around 6:15 am and began the raids.” Ghosh and his associates are currently in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The ED has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to a First Information Report (FIR), against Ghosh.

This development follows an August 23 ruling by the Calcutta High Court, which transferred the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at the hospital from a state-formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI. The court’s decision was prompted by a petition from former Deputy Superintendent Akhtar Ali, who had called for an ED probe into the financial misconduct accusations during Ghosh’s tenure as principal, which lasted from February 2021 to September 2023. Although Ghosh was temporarily transferred from RG Kar in October 2023, he was reinstated just a month later.

Dr. Ali expressed concerns that the corruption at RG Kar Medical College might be linked to the death of a junior doctor, suggesting that the victim may have uncovered financial wrongdoing and possibly threatened to expose it. Ghosh’s involvement in the case has further complicated his position.

The ED’s actions come shortly after Ghosh was taken into custody by the CBI. He has been remanded for eight days as part of the ongoing investigation. Ghosh and the three other arrested individuals are scheduled for medical examinations, which will take place on Saturday at the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in West Bengal.

In addition to the financial probe, Ghosh’s reputation has been further damaged by his alleged connection to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The crime sent shockwaves through the hospital and medical community, prompting protests and demands for justice. While the CBI’s Special Crimes Branch investigates the heinous crime, Ghosh also faces a separate inquiry for financial misconduct. In light of these investigations and the growing outcry, Ghosh was removed from his position as principal of RG Kar Medical College.