Threat Culture Row: Kolkata police registers FIR against 3 doctors after complaints from 31 Calcutta Medical College Doctors

Kolkata: After receiving numerous complaints from 31 junior doctors of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, the Kolkata police recently filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 3 doctors- Birupaksha Biswas, Avik De and Ranjit Saha, accused of being close associates of prime suspect Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar medical college in PG trainee doctor death case and alleged link with North Bengal lobby.

According to the police, the three doctors have been accused of intimidating the junior doctors who physically and digitally through emails filed complaints separately over the past few days to the police. All of the complaints from 31 doctors at CMCH named the three doctors and the reasons were listed as the same that they were being threatened by these three accused doctors. 

As a result, the Police compiled all complaints into one FIR and registered a case under BNS section 351 (assault as making a gesture or preparation that causes someone to believe that they are about to be subjected to criminal force).

Also read- North Bengal Lobby: Bengal Health Department suspends 2 doctors close aides of Ex-RG Kar Principal

A police officer told TOI, "The junior doctors were coming to the station to file complaints for the past few days. All complaints name the three doctors as accused. They alleged the doctors issued threats, though the nature and manner of the threats are unclear." 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that both the West Bengal Health Department and West Bengal Medical Council suspended Dr Avik de and Dr Birupaksha Biswas. 

While the State Health Department suspended these two doctors after several allegations were raised against them for allegedly being involved in irregularities, misconduct, and being part of the North Bengal Lobby across medical colleges, the State Medical Council suspended Avik Dey and Birupakhya Biswas following pressure from all fronts, including that of the striking junior medics, for their alleged nexus in the crime. 

Dr Avik de who is a first-year postgraduate trainee of the surgery department at Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital (SSKM), Kolkata was earlier referred to as a Finger Print Expert by the Kolkata police when a photo of his presence at the seminar room on the third floor of the Emergency Building of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 went viral where the body of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered was found.

Medical dialogues team had earlier reported that the West Bengal state branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) challenged the claim and slammed the police department for referring him as the Fingerprint expert after the association found that he was a PG trainee doctor. Meanwhile, he is also accused of being part of the health syndicate.

Similarly, Birupaksha Biswas who was not posted at RG Kar Hospital was found in the seminar room on the day of the incident. A few days ago, an audio clip of him threatening an intern to cancel his registration if he flags issues concerning some doctors in the hospital went viral. Refuting the allegations, he claimed that it was AI-generated and not his voice.

On Wednesday, Biswas was transferred from Burdwan Medical College in East Burdwan district to the Kakdwip Sub-divisional Hospital in South 24 Parganas district.

Both the suspended doctors were accused of being part of the 'North Bengal Lobby' that manipulated appointments in government hospitals and threatened students and faculty members who spoke against them.

Also read- RG Kar Row: WB Medical Council Suspends 2 Doctors, Serves Show-Cause to Former Principal Sandip Ghosh