RG Kar Doctor rape-murder: Who is Dr Sandeep Ghosh? Former colleagues make host of allegations

Kolkata: The former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh who has been making rounds at the doors of CBI for interrogation is at the centre of controversy after allegations of his being involved with several illegal activities came to light following the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate student. 

The term 'running Mafia-like operation' to define the illegal activities allegedly run by the former principal during his tenure at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has become popular in the past few days after his former colleagues decided to come forward with accusations against him.  

Medical Dialogues recently reported that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers questioned Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of Kar Medical College for the fourth consecutive day. Ghosh reached the CBI's city office at CGO Complex on Monday morning.

Also read- Kolkata Doctor Death Case: Bengal SIT to investigate financial irregularities, CBI grills Former RG Kar Principal

According to the PTI report, Ghosh was asked to specify his role after getting the news of the death of the doctor, who he had contacted and why he made the parents wait for nearly three hours.

The ex-principal was also questioned who had ordered the renovation of the rooms near the seminar hall at the emergency building of the hospital after the incident.

Who is Sandip Ghosh?

Dr Sandip Ghosh, hailing from Bangaon, West Bengal, completed his higher secondary education at Bongaon High School in 1989. He pursued a career in medicine and graduated from RG Kar Medical College in 1994.

Ghosh rose to prominence when he was appointed principal of RG Kar Medical College in 2021, marking a return to his alma mater. Before this role, Ghosh served as vice-principal at Calcutta National Medical College. 

Previously, Dr Sandeep was transferred to the Murshidabad Medical College Hospital (MMCH) as a professor in the orthopaedic department, triggering controversy in the medical fraternity in 2023. He was transferred within 24 hours after being appointed as the principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. It is worth mentioning that Ghosh was reappointed as the college principal of RG Kar Hospital for the second time in just over five months.

Despite his background as an orthopaedics professor and surgeon, he struggled to establish a strong reputation in the field. His tenure at RG Kar Medical College was marked by controversy, highlighting professional irregularities.

Allegations against him

In an interview with India Today TV, former colleagues and batchmates of Ghosh on condition of anonymity made several shocking allegations against him. 

A professor from another hospital in Bengal said that Ghosh ranked sixteenth during the interview process for the principal position. However, he secured the top spot becoming the principal of RG Kar Medical College. This has cast a shadow of mystery over the possibility of him becoming the principal despite having a low rank. 

As per the daily sources, Ghosh was accused of engaging in corrupt practices, including allegations of financial misconduct, claims of extorting money through illegal commissions and manipulating tenders during his time as principal of RG Kar Hospital. He has been also accused of redirecting corpses meant for post-mortem to unauthorised uses — a violation that struck at the core of medical ethics.

A former classmate of Ghosh, who spoke to India Today TV on condition of anonymity, "During our college years, he wasn’t known for any notorious behaviour. But power can change people, and it seems that might be the case with him."

She also noted that "Ghosh’s first appointment was as the MSVP (Medical Superintendent cum Vice Principal) of National Medical College, hinting at a pattern of rapid, perhaps questionable, career advancements."

The accusations against Ghosh did not end with financial corruption. Former colleagues have painted a picture of a principal who ran RG Kar Medical College like a personal fiefdom. 

Dr Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent of the college, did not mince words in his assessment of Ghosh. "He is a very corrupt person. He used to fail students and takes 20 per cent commission. In the case of tenders, RG Kar used to extort money from every work of medical college and hospital and supply liquor to students in the guest house. He is like a mafia man, very powerful. I had earlier complained against him in 2023 but I was transferred after that," Dr Ali added. 

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that amid ongoing protests by resident doctors over the rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate respiratory medicine medico at R G Kar Medical College Hospital, the principal Dr Sandip Ghosh resigned from his post a few days later. 

However, he was appointed as the principal of the Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital (CNMCH) through a notification issued by the West Bengal Health Department hours after resigning as the principal of state-run R G Kar Medical College & Hospital on Monday,

Speaking about Ghosh resigning, Dr Ali said, "His resignation (after the rape and murder) was an eyewash. He was appointed the principal of Calcutta National Medical College within eight hours."

After the announcement of him taking charge as the principal of CNMCH, the medical students and doctors of the institute refused to accept him as the new principal of the institute and protested by locking the doors of the principal's room.

After locking the principal’s room from outside on Monday evening, the medical students and junior doctors staged a dharna in front of the same room on Tuesday morning. They claimed that they would not allow Dr Ghosh to be their new principal.

Medical Dialogues also reported that a second-year postgraduate respiratory medicine medico was allegedly raped and murdered inside the campus after her body was found in the seminar hall of the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. A preliminary autopsy report indicated sexual abuse before she was killed. As per the inquest report, there was bleeding from the doctor's eyes and mouth, injury on the face and nails, bleeding from her genitals, and several other injury marks on different parts of her body. After this doctors across the country started a massive protest demanding justice for their colleague's rape and murder.

Also read- West Bengal Orthopaedic Association bars former RG Kar Principal Dr Sandip Ghosh for indefinite period