The West Bengal government has intensified its stance in the alleged financial corruption case involving former R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh by granting the necessary administrative sanction for his prosecution, paving the way for central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate full-fledged legal proceedings against him in court.
The directive, issued by Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Monday, formally authorises investigative agencies to proceed with prosecution in connection with allegations of large-scale financial irregularities and corruption linked to procurement activities and infrastructure projects at the state-run medical institution.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also addressed the development through a social media post, asserting that those responsible must face the strictest punishment and that justice must be visible to the people of Bengal.
The case originated from allegations of corruption involving procurement contracts and misuse of public funds at R.G. Kar Medical College, where a junior doctor was raped and murdered in 2024. Acting on court orders, the CBI took over the investigation after a complaint was registered at Tala Police Station. Subsequent investigations by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch reportedly uncovered evidence linking Ghosh to financial misconduct involving several allegedly dubious firms, including Maa Tara Traders, Eshan Cafe, and Khama Louha. Investigators have alleged that state funds were siphoned off through these entities, leading to charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the official order, Amit Dan, Special Secretary of the state Health and Family Welfare Department, communicated the prosecution sanction on behalf of the Governor after reviewing the FIR, case records, and related documents. The order stated that the Governor found sufficient grounds to permit legal proceedings against the former principal.
The state government had earlier removed Ghosh from the post of principal amid mounting allegations. By approving prosecution proceedings, the administration has signaled a tougher approach toward corruption-related cases in public institutions.
In his social media statement, Adhikari referred to the 2024 rape and murder case involving a trainee doctor — widely referred to in public discourse as “Sister Abhaya” — at R.G. Kar Medical College. He claimed that legal clearance had now been granted for the ED to proceed against Ghosh in accordance with due legal procedures and alleged that the previous government had obstructed the investigation process. He further stated that no individual is above the law and called for the swift identification and punishment of all those responsible.
For years, sections of junior doctors at the hospital had voiced allegations against Ghosh, accusing him of authoritarian functioning and financial irregularities involving procurement and hospital operations. The ED has already registered a case against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Officials indicated that the prosecution sanction order has already been forwarded to the ED office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, a move expected to accelerate the pace of the ongoing investigation.
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