Former RG Kar headmaster finds himself in even deeper trouble as emergency department investigates financial irregularities at hospital

Controversial RG Kar Medical College & Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh seems to be in even bigger trouble as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also stepped in and filed an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) alleging financial irregularities during his tenure. According to news agency IANS, citing sources, the ECIR is being filed on the basis of the first information report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials in the matter.

The CBI is already investigating the case following an order from a single judge of the Calcutta High Court last week. Now, the ED, the Union Finance Ministry's investigative agency, will probe the money laundering aspect of the case, news agency IANS reported, citing sources. The ED always has more flexibility in initiating an investigation than the CBI in any case.

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While the CBI can intervene in the investigation only under two circumstances, namely, with permission from the state government concerned and a court order, ED has no such restrictions in such cases. Once ED comes into the picture, the sources said, Ghosh and his close associates at RG Kar will be questioned twice, first by the CBI investigators and then by those attached to ED.

Besides Ghosh, Sanjay Vashisth, former medical director and deputy director of RG Kar, and Debasish Som, head of the hospital's forensic department, have also been questioned by the CBI in the matter. The CBI's FIR contains the names of Ghosh and three companies, namely Maa Tara Traders, Ehsan and Kham Louha. The three companies are considered to be the beneficiaries of the alleged financial fraud.

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According to the CBI's findings, sources said Maa Tara Traders had a virtual monopoly on supplying various medical equipment to RG Kar due to the owner's close ties with Ghosh. The CBI is currently conducting a multi-party investigation into financial irregularities at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, involving 15 specific allegations of forgery, IANS reported, citing sources.