Days after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday conducted searches on the premises of former principal Sandip Ghosh, ex-medical superintendent Sanjay Vashisth and 13 others, in and around the city. The searches were conducted at a total of 15 locations, in connection with the alleged financial irregularities at the institute.
A case against Ghosh and three Kolkata-based private entities — Ma Tara Traders of Madhya Jhorehat, Banipur, Howrah; Eshan Cafe of 4/1, Belgachia and Khama Louha, was registered by the CBI on the directions of the Calcutta High Court. The premises of all these entities, named in the First Information Report (FIR), were also searched during the operation.
FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES AT RG KAR MEDICAL COLLEGE: TOP POINTS
- The anti-corruption branch of the CBI, accompanied by central forces, arrived at Ghosh’s residence at nearly 6 am on August 25, but was made to wait for nearly one-and-half hours before he opened the doors, news agency PTI reported.
- At nearly 8 am, at least seven officials from the central probe agency began questioning Ghosh. Other CBI officials, meanwhile, grilled ex-MSVP (Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal), Sanjay Vashisth, along with another professor at the forensic-medicine department of the medical establishment, among others.
- Another team of CBI also searched the office of the ex-principal and went to the canteen in the academic building. Residences and premises of those engaged in supplying materials for the management and care of patients at the hospital were also searched.
- The search operations continued for more than 12 hours, after which the probe agency came out at nearly 8.50 pm, carrying piles of documents which they reportedly seized from the premises. When asked about the evidence, a CBI official told reporters, “bahut kuch hai,” (there is a lot).
- Following the search operation, a team of CBI officials arrived at the residence of Debabish Shom, Demonstrator, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The officials took Shom to their office at Nizam Palace. However, it was not clear if he had been arrested or detained for questioning.
- The agency has filed an FIR against Ghosh and other private entities under Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, under the Indian Penal Code.
- Earlier too, Ghosh was questioned by the CBI’s special crime unit for nine consecutive days since August 16, in connection with the doctor’s rape and murder. According to CBI sources, they were trying to track the links between the two cases.