CBI Takes Charge of Financial Irregularities Probe at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College After Court Directive
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the inquiry into alleged financial irregularities at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, where a postgraduate trainee doctor was tragically found dead in suspicious circumstances on August 9. The investigation was handed to the CBI following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, replacing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the West Bengal government.
The High Court had already transferred the probe into the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor to the CBI. In its latest order, the court cited concerns over the efficiency and consistency of justice if multiple agencies were involved in different aspects of the investigation. Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj noted that centralizing the probe under one agency would ensure a more streamlined and credible investigation.
The court’s decision came in response to a petition by former Deputy Superintendent of the hospital, Akhtar Ali, who had flagged financial misconduct during the tenure of former principal Sandip Ghosh. Ali’s complaint included allegations of misappropriation of government funds, the illegal sale of hazardous bio-medical waste, and the wrongful transfer of officers for financial gain. Ali had initially filed a complaint with state police in July 2023, providing documentation to back his claims.
Following the court’s directive, the CBI re-registered the FIR and collected all relevant documents from the state police to ensure a seamless transition of the investigation. The court has asked the CBI to submit a progress report within three weeks.
Earlier, the state government had constituted an SIT on August 16 to investigate the financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College, focusing on activities from January 2021 to the present. The case attracted widespread media attention after the alleged rape and murder, sparking nationwide protests by doctors and citizens.
The Supreme Court recently urged protesting doctors to return to work, assuring them that steps were being taken to ensure their safety as the investigation continues.
