The Calcutta High Court has handed over the investigation into financial irregularities in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to the CBI. The court ordered the transfer of the investigation from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision came after a petition by Akhtar Ali, former deputy superintendent of the medical establishment. He had appealed for an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into financial misdeeds during the tenure of former college principal Sandeep Ghosh. Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj directed the CBI to provide a progress report on the investigation within 3 weeks. The next hearing in the case will be on September 17 and then the court will review the report.
On the other hand, Sealdah Court has allowed polygraph test of former principal Dr. Sandeep Ghosh and 5 others in this case. The 5 others include 4 doctors and 1 volunteer who had dinner with the deceased doctor. Reports have revealed that the victim had dinner with some of her colleagues on the night before the incident. After this, she went to the seminar hall of the medical college. Her body was found at around 10 am on August 9. It was said that she was raped and then murdered. The main accused was arrested a day after the incident, and the court today sent him to 14 days judicial custody.
SC raised questions on delay in filing FIR
The Supreme Court on Thursday said in a stern tone that the delay of Kolkata Police in registering a case of unnatural death in this case is extremely disturbing. The court also urged the protesting doctors to return to work on the 14th day of blocking of health services in government hospitals of Bengal. The SC directed the central and state governments to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of health workers across the country. Also, it raised questions on the 14-hour delay in registering an FIR in the Kolkata incident and the reasons behind it. Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud issued several directions related to the safety of doctors, the rights of protesters and the responsibilities of the West Bengal government. The bench also comprised Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra.
