In the political turmoil surrounding the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a letter from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the former principal of the institution, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, has emerged, intensifying the controversy.
The letter, dated June 30, 2022, was reportedly written on the Chief Minister’s official letterhead, offering birthday wishes to Dr. Ghosh. According to sources, Ghosh was one of a select few recipients of personalized letters from the CM on special occasions.
This revelation has provided further ammunition for the opposition, which has been critical of Banerjee’s handling of the case. BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal commented, “This explains why Dr. Sandip Ghosh remained in his position even after a special committee was formed to investigate irregularities at RG Kar Hospital following a vigilance report.
Dr. Ghosh is currently under CBI investigation in connection with the tragic incident, which took place on the hospital premises. He is also facing allegations of financial misconduct during his tenure as principal. On August 20, the West Bengal government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe financial irregularities linked to his administration, a move that followed widespread protests and public outrage.
The CBI took over the rape and murder case following a petition filed by former deputy superintendent Akhtar Ali, who requested an Enforcement Directorate probe into the alleged financial irregularities at the hospital.
As part of the ongoing investigation, lie detection tests have been conducted on the main accused, Sanjoy Roy, along with six others, including Dr. Ghosh. While Roy’s polygraph test is taking place at the correctional facility where he is being held, the others, including four doctors and a civic volunteer, are being tested at the CBI office in Kolkata.
Dr. Ghosh has been summoned to the CBI’s Salt Lake office for questioning for nine consecutive days. The investigation team is particularly focused on two first-year postgraduate trainees whose fingerprints were allegedly found in a seminar hall where the doctor’s body was discovered.
A specialized team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi has flown in to conduct the polygraph tests, which are expected to play a crucial role in the case.
