Alleged Misuse of Funds: 7 Junior doctors leading RG Kar movement summoned by police

Kolkata: Three months after the West Bengal Junior Doctor Association (WBJDA) accused the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF) of collecting and misusing funds under the pretence of seeking justice for Abhaya, seven junior doctors associated with WBJDF, the key figures in leading the agitation were summoned by the Bidhan Nagar police on Saturday. 

Among the seven junior doctors summoned, only Aniket Mahato, associated with RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, responded via video conference. The others cited work commitments as the reason for their absence.

Also read- RG Kar Case: New Junior Doctors' Association Calls for Audit of WBJDF Funds

The controversy arose after Raja Ghosh, a Kolkata resident, filed a complaint last year, claiming he had donated Rs 5,000 towards the movement but never received a receipt. Following his complaint, the cybercrime branch initiated an investigation into the matter. 

Although Mahato denied any irregularities in handling the funds during the movement, Ghosh questioned the hidden intention of the association, alleging that the money may have been diverted into personal bank accounts. However, he emphasized that the public remains unaware, as many citizens who joined the protest donated to support the cause. He demanded a probe into the matter. 

It is to be noted that Medical Dialogues in October 2024 reported that a controversy began between two doctors' associations after West Bengal Junior Doctor Association (WBJDA) accused the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF) of collecting funds under the pretence of seeking justice for Abhaya, the PG trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

On one hand, representatives in the WBJDA, a newly-formed association reportedly having the backing of the ruling Trinamool Congress, accused the WBJDF members of exploiting the rape and murder issues to serve self-interest, which includes mobilisation of funds from the public in the name of the protests. The WBJDF was accused of raising huge funds around Rs 4.75 crore into different accounts.

On the other hand, West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), the original umbrella body spearheading the protests over the rape and murder, has accused the newly-formed West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Association (WBJDA) of being a group of those junior doctors who had been accused of “threat culture” within the premises of medical colleges and hospitals. They were accused of enjoying the patronage of erstwhile influential persons from the medical fraternity like the former principal of R G Kar Sandip Ghosh.

Refuting the allegations of diverting funds for personal benefits, Mahato told HT, “There are no irregularities. When we launched the movement, we used our own bank accounts to receive financial help from sympathisers of the movement. Later, we opened a dedicated account. The audit reports are being prepared."

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Calcutta High Court granted a six-week interim stay on the ongoing state police investigation against junior doctor Asfakullah Naiya, a prominent figure in the R.G. Kar case movement citing lack of substantial evidence to support the criminal charges. He was accused of misrepresenting his medical qualifications while practising privately at a clinic in Singur.

The case concerned Naiya who has completed his MBBS and is currently pursuing a postgraduate course in ENT. However, the complainant in this case alleged that Naiya falsely claimed to be an ENT surgeon at a private healthcare facility while still undergoing his postgraduate studies.

While reviewing the case diary of Naiya, Single Bench Justice Tirthankar Ghosh questioned the grounds for initiating the investigation. In his opinion, the police relied on a document downloaded by the complainant from the private clinic’s website which mentioned Naiya as an MS (ENT) and referred to the clinic's Instagram page which the court considered insufficient to substantiate the allegations.

Also read- Calcutta HC Grants Interim Stay on Probe Against RG Kar Doctor, Cites Lack of Evidence