The court ordered the CBI to handle the probe after a plea from Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of the hospital, who accused Ghosh of financial misconduct during his tenure.
Digital Desk: The CBI on Sunday conducted searches at 15 locations, including the residence of former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh, as part of a corruption investigation. This action follows the agency's recent filing of a case alleging financial irregularities at the Kolkata hospital, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered on August 9. The CBI took over the investigation from the West Bengal government's special investigation team, as directed by the Calcutta High Court.
The court ordered the CBI to handle the probe after a plea from Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of the hospital, who accused Ghosh of financial misconduct during his tenure. The High Court had previously transferred the investigation into the rape and murder case to the CBI, and it has now also assigned the corruption investigation to the central agency.
"This Court directs that the investigation be transferred to the CBI, given that the case involved serious allegations and multiple agencies handling different aspects of the case could lead to inefficiencies or inconsistency for comprehensive justice, unnecessary delays in the judicial process, and potential misinterpretation of information, thereby undermining effective and credible enforcement. Therefore, the investigation should not be fragmented between different agencies. Handing over the investigation to the CBI ensures consistency," Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj stated in his order.
The High Court has instructed the CBI to provide a progress report on the investigation within three weeks.
On Saturday, Sandip Ghosh and four others underwent polygraph tests at the CBI office in Kolkata, conducted by a team of specialists from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Delhi.
In addition to Ghosh, lie detection tests were carried out on two doctors, an intern, and a hospital staff member who were on duty the night the trainee doctor was raped and murdered in a seminar hall at RG Kar. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, has been arrested in connection with the brutal crime. The CBI plans to conduct a polygraph test on him today.
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