On August 21, Professor Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay, the former principal of Barasat Medical College, was appointed as the principal at RG Kar Medical College.However, the official website of RG Kar Medical College currently displays another name too as the principal. Under the ‘Administration’ tab, in the ‘Important Administrative Contacts’ section, the former head, Dr. Sandip Ghosh’s name is still prominently listed as the principal. Allegedly involved in the crime against the trainee doctor at RG Kar, Dr. Ghosh had to resign from his position a couple of weeks back amid massive protests. On the other hand, Professor Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay’s name reflects as the principal under the ‘Contact Us’ tab of the official website.
RG Kar Medical College atrocity and the swift change of principals
On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered while on duty at the institute. Amid widespread protests from doctors and the general public, Dr. Ghosh resigned from his post as principal on August 12. Notably, he was briefly reinstated as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital. However, his appointment was quickly cancelled following a directive from the Calcutta High Court. Dr. Surhita Paul was appointed in his place in RG Kar Medical College but had to be transferred soon to the Barasat Medical College and Hospital as principal, owing to demands from RG Kar Medical College students and doctors. Finally, Professor Bandyopadhyay was brought in as the principal of RG Kar Medical College. Read the detailed report here.
Sandip Ghosh, RG Kar Medical College murder and CBI investigation
Recently, Sandip Ghosh appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the third time, facing questions about his alleged involvement in the case. On Thursday, Ghosh and four colleagues of the deceased junior doctor agreed to undergo polygraph tests. This was based on the CBI’s request for their legal consent to use this method to verify the statements made to the agency so far. While the results of a polygraph or lie detector test are inadmissible in court, investigative agencies often rely on them to gather leads that could help uncover admissible evidence.
Who is Dr. Sandip Ghosh?
Dr. Sandip Ghosh’s medical career began in his hometown of Bangaon, West Bengal. He completed his higher secondary education at Bangaon High School in 1989 and pursued medicine at RG Kar Medical College, graduating in 1994. His early medical career showed steady progress, but he gained significant recognition when appointed as the principal of RG Kar Medical College in 2021, returning to his alma mater. Before this, Ghosh served as vice-principal at Calcutta National Medical College.
In June 2023, Dr. Ghosh faced controversy over corruption allegations, including financial misconduct and tender manipulation, leading to his temporary transfer to Murshidabad Medical College. However, he was reinstated at RG Kar Medical College within days, raising concerns about the swift decision. A recent TOI report reveals that Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent at RG Kar Medical College, accused Ghosh and other officials of misconduct. Allegations included leasing government assets without approval, nepotism, awarding contracts to ineligible parties, demanding a 20% commission, involvement in a cross-border medical-waste recycling scheme, and financial irregularities flagged by the CAG.
