Special Investigation Team Formed to Probe Financial Irregularities at RG Kar Medical College

GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 20th August. Amid allegations of financial irregularities, the West Bengal government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine transactions during the tenure of former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandip Ghosh. The SIT, led by Inspector General of Police Dr. Pranav Kumar, is tasked with investigating financial activities from January 2021 to the present and is expected to submit an initial report within a month.

The decision follows intense scrutiny and criticism surrounding the handling of the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Sandip Ghosh, who has faced severe backlash for his role in the case, is now being questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A directive from the Home and Hill Affairs Department’s Internal Security Branch grants the SIT access to relevant documents from both government and private sectors to expedite the inquiry. This move aims to address the financial discrepancies alleged during Ghosh’s tenure.

The controversy intensified when Ghosh was transferred to the National Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata shortly after his resignation, sparking criticism from the Opposition, civil society, and the Calcutta High Court. The court condemned the transfer, questioning the rationale behind promoting someone who had failed in his duty to protect students. Consequently, Ghosh was placed on extended leave.

The CBI’s investigation into the rape-murder has further complicated matters, with Ghosh being interrogated about hospital security, the handling of the crime scene, and the abrupt declaration of the death as a suicide. The agency is also scrutinizing his communication records and seeking detailed accounts of his activities before and after the August 9 incident.

The state’s handling of the situation has put Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government under pressure, with widespread protests and social media criticism highlighting the perceived mishandling of the case and Ghosh’s swift reassignment.