On Tuesday (3rd September), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a special court in Alipore that Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was involved in siphoning off funds and making 84 illegal appointments between 2022-2023.
The development took place following his arrest by the central agency along with security guard Afsar Ali Khan (44) and hospital vendors Suman Hazara (46) and Biplav Singha (52) over financial irregularities.
CBI pointed out that Sandip Ghosh followed a non-transparent method for the appointment of house staffers by surpassing due process.
84 candidates selected by flouting rules: CBI
“For 2024, a 13-member committee was formed for selection, merit list as well as counseling of house staffship for MBBS was prepared. All the documents such as resolution, final merit score have been signed by all committee members and final order of selection staff has been signed by Dr. Sandip Ghosh, Principal, RG Kar, Medical College,” it noted.
“But the documents with respect to selection for the years 2022 and 2023, does not contain resolution, detailed calculation of marks. They simply contain final marks and final order for selection of 84 candidates. Whereas in these selection procedures too, committees were formed but the signature of committee members is missing in the mark-sheet and other documents,” the central agency highlighted the discrepancies.
The Central Bureau of Investigation noted that Sandip Ghosh was involved in siphoning off funds through ‘tender management’ in collusion with other accused.
Sandip Ghosh engaged in undue favours, siphoned off funds
“It is primarily revealed that Dr. Sandip Ghosh showed undue favour to M/s Khama Louha by way of awarding space on rent for running a café under due to clout of Chandan Louha with influential people,” the investigating body told the court.
“The firms which were awarded contracts, i.e. M/s Maa Tara Traders, M/s Hazra Medical, Nisha Enterprises etc, were awarded multiple works just below Rs 1 lakhs in order to be eligible for the quotation process for procurement of limited tendering,” it further revealed.
“Multiple bills have been seized in which amounts are just below Rs 1 lakhs. Similarly multiple instances have been identified wherein the amount limit has been kept a few rupees below Rs 10000 in order to avoid quotations at all,” CBI emphasised.
Timeline of the investigation against Sandip Ghosh
In August this year, the ex-deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr Akhtar Ali moved the Calcutta High Court demanding a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the financial misconduct at the facility.
Ali had accused Ghosh of trafficking biomedical waste, illegally selling unclaimed dead bodies and passing tenders in exchange for commission from medicine suppliers.
He also informed the court that the former principal charged ₹5 to ₹ 8 lakhs from students in return for passing them in exams. The case pertaining to financial irregularities was being handled by the State-appointed SIT prior to its transfer to CBI.
The central agency had previously raided his house in connection to financial irregularities at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. He was also subjected to a polygraph test along with the prime accused Sanjay Roy and four doctors.
