KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has revealed that Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is implicated in a “larger nexus” involving graft and financial irregularities. On Tuesday, a special court granted the CBI eight days of custody for Ghosh, until September 10.
Despite the efforts of 12 CBI officers and 25 CRPF personnel to protect him, Ghosh faced public outrage. Inside the courtroom, he was slapped by protesting female lawyers, and a protester outside hit him on the back of the head.
Ghosh’s arrest on Monday was part of a broader corruption case. Alongside him, three others were also taken into custody: Afsar Ali Khan, Ghosh’s security guard; Biplab Singha, owner of Maa Tara Traders; and Suman Hazra, who allegedly sold recycled medicines from RG Kar Hospital. They, too, have been remanded in CBI custody until September 10.
CBI counsel Rambabu Kanojia emphasized that the accused are part of a larger network, which is still under investigation. “There is a larger nexus, which has to be probed,” he stated.
As Ghosh and the others were being transported from the CBI office at Nizam Palace, a crowd gathered, chanting “Chor, chor” and “Justice for Tilottama.” Upon arriving at Alipore, the crowd grew larger and more hostile. The CBI team swiftly moved the detainees into the courtroom, closing the door to shield them from the protesters.
Inside, a group of women lawyers berated and assaulted Ghosh. As the other accused arrived with their faces covered, the court erupted in demands for their faces to be uncovered.
The CBI has charged the four with multiple offenses, including taking illegal gratification, criminal misconduct, cheating, criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, and forgery.
Kanojia requested a 10-day extension of custody, citing the serious nature of the crime and the need for additional evidence. Ghosh’s lawyer, Zohaib Rauf, argued for a shorter detention, noting Ghosh’s cooperation with the CBI. “He had gone to the CBI office even on Monday, when he was arrested. He had attended the interrogation each day he was sent a summons. The court is requested to consider the period of detention,” Rauf told the court. The other three moved for bail, which the court turned down.
As the accused were being escorted out, additional CRPF personnel were deployed to form a protective cordon. Despite this, a protester managed to strike Ghosh before he was secured in the CBI vehicle.
Protesters called for the CBI to investigate Ghosh further in connection with the rape and murder of a doctor, demanding that justice be served and all culprits be identified.
“CBI has arrested him in the financial fraud case, but we want them to probe and question him in the rape and murder of the doctor as well,” said a protester. “He cannot shrug off responsibility for the crime. We want justice for the doctor and we want CBI to continue questioning him and find all other culprits.”
