SC dismisses Sandip Ghosh's plea against CBI probe into financial irregularities

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea filed by former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal, Sandip Ghosh, seeking to stop the CBI investigation into allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure. The dismissal comes as a major development in the ongoing probe into corruption at the prestigious medical institution.

On the same day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided several locations in Kolkata, focusing on Ghosh's residence and those of his associates. After several hours of waiting, ED officials gained entry into Ghosh's house when his wife unlocked the door, allowing the investigation to proceed. The raid was part of a larger operation targeting 5-6 locations, including the premises of Prasun Chatterjee, a data entry operator at RG Kar Medical College.

The ED's involvement follows a Calcutta High Court directive that transferred the case from a state-run Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI, prompted by a petition from Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent at RG Kar Hospital. Ali had sought a more comprehensive probe into the alleged financial irregularities.

Earlier in the week, the CBI arrested Ghosh, along with three others connected to the case—his security guard Afsar Ali, and two hospital vendors, Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara, both of whom supplied materials to the hospital. The arrests come amid a broader investigation into the hospital's practices, which has already faced intense scrutiny following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor last month.

Ghosh, who served as principal from February 2021 to September 2023, was briefly transferred in October before returning to his post just a month later. His return coincided with the tragic death of the hospital doctor, which has further intensified public interest in the ongoing investigation.