The FIR lodged by Kolkata Police against Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, could pave the way for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to launch a money-laundering investigation into the corruption allegations raised by West Bengal’s health department.
Amid fresh accusations from former colleagues that Ghosh was involved in the illegal sale of unclaimed bodies and bio-waste trafficking, sources within the ED have indicated that although no official enforcement case information report (equivalent to an FIR in money-laundering cases) has been filed yet, the agency may still initiate an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
There has already been a call for an ED investigation into Ghosh and others accused of financial misconduct at the hospital during his tenure since 2021. Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Hospital, has petitioned the Calcutta High Court to seek a money-laundering investigation against Ghosh, claiming that he had previously reported irregularities to state authorities, but no action was taken on his complaint last year.
Dr. Ghosh is currently under interrogation by the CBI in connection with the rape and murder of a doctor at the hospital. He is also accused of fostering cartels for procurement and construction work within the hospital, allegedly receiving bribes in the process. The ED’s potential probe under the PMLA would involve tracing the money trail to establish the proceeds of crime, including questioning other suspects such as contractors, intermediaries, and possibly politicians.
The FIR against Dr. Ghosh was registered by Kolkata Police at Tala police station on Monday, based on a complaint from West Bengal’s health department. The complaint accuses Ghosh and others of criminal conspiracy and forming an illicit nexus with contractors in the awarding of hospital procurement and construction contracts. The investigation covers a period starting from 2021, when Ghosh took charge of hospital administration.
The state government has transferred the case filed at Tala police station under the Prevention of Corruption Act to a special investigation team (SIT) that has been set up to probe the rape and murder case. While the CBI has questioned several suspects and recorded statements from the victim’s parents, it has yet to reveal whether it has registered any FIR in this case.