In another setback for Sandip Ghosh, who was the principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital when a trainee doctor was raped and murdered there last month, a special CBI court has sent him to judicial custody till September 23. Ghosh was arrested by the CBI on September 2 in a case of alleged financial irregularities at the hospital, and has been in the agency's custody since then.
The Calcutta High Court had ordered the transfer of the investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at the state-run hospital, where Ghosh had been the principal since 2021 - with a brief hiatus in between - from a special investigation team of the Kolkata Police to the CBI on August 23. The order had come after a former deputy superintendent of the facility, Dr Akhtar Ali, had sought an investigation.
Mr Ali had accused Sandip Ghosh of involvement in the illegal sale of unclaimed corpses, trafficking of biomedical waste, and issuing tenders to select medicine and medical equipment suppliers in exchange for commission. He had also alleged that students were pressured to pay amounts running into lakhs of rupees to pass exams.
Ghosh was arrested by the CBI after being questioned several times in a span of two weeks. Three other people - vendors Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara, and Afsar Ali, a security guard - were also taken into custody.
After Ghosh was sent to the CBI's custody for eight days a day after his arrest, he was suspended by the West Bengal government, which has been under fire over its handling of the rape and murder case and a posting given to the former RG Kar principal after he resigned following the crime.
On Tuesday, Ghosh, Afsar Ali, Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara were sent to judicial custody by the special CBI court in Kolkata's Alipore till September 23.
Protests Continue
On Friday, the Supreme Court had also dismissed Ghosh's petition challenging the Calcutta High Court order transferring the investigation into the irregularities to the CBI. He had also sought the removal of certain comments made by the high court, and the Supreme Court said no to that as well.
Kolkata and several other places have seen continued protests over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor in the hospital on August 9. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also found herself being attacked by the BJP and other parties and criticised by the victim's parents after she asked people to return to 'pujo' celebrations, referring to the the upcoming Durga Puja festival.
"It has been a month (since the August 9 incident). I request you return to pujo, return to the festivities and ask the CBI to ensure justice as soon as possible," she said on Monday.
Reacting to the comments, the victim's parents told news agency PTI, "We celebrated Durga Puja with our daughter, we will not celebrate Durga Puja or any other festival for years to come. Her remarks are insensitive."
BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari accused the Trinamool Congress chief of treating people like puppets. "(Do you think) they will stand, sit, celebrate and stop protests when you ask them to? The pujo fortnight has not started yet, the demon is yet to be slayed. Be patient, the Mother's power has awakened, it will cleanse Bengal," he wrote in a post on X.
Featured Video Of The Day
Apple's Latest Lineup: iPhone 16, AirPods 4, And Watch Series 10 Unveiled!
On Mamata Banerjee's Pujo Call, Doctor's Family Says, "Celebrated With Her" "I Have Lost Hair, Suggest Medicines": Trinamool Leader's Epic Comeback "Lower Your Pitch": Chief Justice Rebukes Lawyer, He Apologises IAF Officer Files Rape Case Against Senior, Says Was Forced Into Oral Sex BJP Releases 2nd List For Haryana Polls, Vinesh Phogat's Opponent Is... "Dangerous Narrative...": Minister Slams Rahul Gandhi's Comment On Sikhs BMW Recalls 1.5 Million Cars Over Faulty Brakes Centre Simplifies Approval Norms For Telecom Licences, Wireless Equipment In Pics: Apple Launches iPhone 16 Lineup, AirPods And More Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.