The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began its probe into alleged corruption at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, following a High Court directive. The agency conducted raids on Sunday at 14 locations, including the residence of former principal Sandip Ghosh and properties linked to health department officials and two vendors.
The CBI’s FIR, filed the previous day, names Sandip Ghosh along with a woman, Khoma Louha, who runs Eshan Cafe on the hospital campus, and a business called Ma Tara Traders. A CBI team searched the administrative block of RG Kar Hospital and questioned several officials, including the current vice-principal, Saptarshi Chatterjee, and his predecessor, Sanjay Vashishth.
A CBI officer reported that the searches uncovered “a lot of things” but declined to provide further details.
The raids began at 6:45 a.m. when CBI officers arrived at Ghosh’s four-story home in Beliaghata, central Kolkata. Despite multiple attempts to contact him, Ghosh didn’t respond initially, prompting the CBI team to visit the local police station to inquire about his whereabouts. Ghosh eventually opened the door after more than an hour, allowing the CBI officers to enter. His interrogation continued late into the evening.
Another CBI team visited Vashishth’s homes in Entally and Tangra, where he was also questioned. Vashishth had previously been interrogated by the CBI’s special crime branch in connection with the ongoing rape-murder case at the hospital.
Additionally, the CBI conducted a search at the home of former forensic medicine demonstrator Debashish Som in Kestopur. Som, once close to Ghosh, was later taken to the CBI office at Nizam Palace for further questioning.
Two vendors connected to the hospital were also questioned. In Howrah, CBI officers visited the office of medical equipment supplier Biplab Sinha, owner of Tara Ma Traders. In Tallah, they searched the home of cafe owner Khoma Louha and took her husband, Chandan Louha, for questioning at an undisclosed location.
Ghosh is expected to challenge the CBI probe on Monday, arguing that the investigation was ordered without him being given an opportunity to be heard in court.
