'Not A Coincidence': BJP Alleges TMC Link To Sandip Ghosh, 3 Others Arrested In RG Kar Corruption Case

Hours after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal, Sandip Ghosh, and three others in connection with the alleged financial irregularities at the facility, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, alleged the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have proximity with those arrested with the case.

Sharing a picture on his official X handle, Malviya said hospital vendors Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara, arrested by the CBI, were earlier spotted with TMC MLA and Howrah district chief, Kalyan Ghosh. He also said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should undergo a polygraph test in the case.

“In this dated picture, Biplav Singha and Suman Hazara, arrested by the CBI, can be seen with TMC MLA and Howrah District President Kalyan Ghosh,” Malviya wrote.

He further wrote, “Afsar Ali is the same person, who, in a viral video claimed, that he was sent by CM Didi Mamata Banerjee, when the incumbent principal of RG Kar MCH questioned his presence on the campus. The proximity of all those arrested, including Dr Sandip Ghosh, to the top TMC leadership, is not a coincidence.” (sic).

“This investigation won’t reach a logical conclusion till such time Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata CP Vineet Goyal step down and are subjected to polygraph test,” he added.

The alleged financial irregularities at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is under intense scrutiny, especially after the rape and murder of the trainee doctor there on August 9.

On Monday, officials of the CBI said the three others arrested were Ghosh’s security guard, Afsar Ali (44), along with Biplav Singha (52) and Suman Hazara (46) who used to supply material to the hospital, news agency PTI reported.

Later, the Trinamool Congress said the party has “nothing to say” in the arrests made.

“The CBI is investigating the case,” TMC leader Kunal Ghosh wrote on X.

“Probably arrested in a corruption case, Sandeep or his lawyers can say this. The party has nothing to say. Some complaints were heard long ago. If steps had been taken then, the present discomfort could have been avoided in the health department,” a rough translation from his tweet in regional language suggested.

THE KOLKATA HOSPITAL RAPE-MURDER CASE, PROTESTS

September 2 was the 15th day of Ghosh’s questioning by the CBI. From the agency’s Salt Lake office, the 53-year-old was taken to the CBI’s Nizam Palace office in Kolkata, which houses the agency’s anti-corruption wing and was arrested.

This is the second major arrest at the hospital since August 9.

Earlier, the main accused – a Kolkata Police civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested by the Kolkata Police and handed over to the central agency in connection with the medic’s alleged rape and murder.

On August 23, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the CBI.

The direction came in response to a petition by former deputy superintendent of the facility, Dr Akhtar Ali, who prayed for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into multiple counts of alleged financial misconduct at the state-run institute during Gosh’s tenure as its principal.

Meanwhile, the agitating doctors stuck to their demand to suspend Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyal, pending inquiry.

Protestors across social and political circles of the state have accused the Mamata Banerjee administration of shielding Ghosh by not issuing a suspension order.