In a remarkable turn of events, approximately 50 senior doctors from Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital tendered their resignation on Tuesday. Displaying remarkable unity and support, these doctors stood in solidarity with junior doctors who have been on a hunger strike seeking justice.
A senior doctor stated, "The decision to resign was reached during a meeting of department heads on Tuesday. All 50 senior doctors of our hospital have signed their resignations as a gesture of solidarity with the junior doctors fighting for justice." This movement could potentially see doctors from NRS Medical College and Hospital also resigning.
The joint platform of doctors in West Bengal has vouched to support the junior doctors demanding justice in the distressing case involving the assault and murder of a female doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Additionally, they are campaigning for an end to corruption in the healthcare system, a cause for which junior doctors have been on a hunger strike for four consecutive days.
Just two days prior, a committee investigating allegations of misconduct and money laundering at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital took decisive action. Ten doctors and 59 staff members, including interns, students, and house staff, were suspended amidst various allegations, including ragging.
Before the suspension orders were issued, a meeting was convened by the investigative committee involving representatives from doctors and interns, while medical students protested outside demanding immediate action against the 59 accused hospital staff. Ten doctors were suspended effective immediately, and stringent measures were taken against others.
The suspended individuals, including Saurabh Pal, Ashish Pandey (also arrested by CBI), Abhishek Sen, Ayushree Thapa, Niranjan Bagchi, Sharif Hasan, Neelagnideb Nath, Amarendra Singh, Satpal Singh, and Tanveer Ahmed Qazi, were ordered to vacate their hostels within 72 hours. These individuals' names will also be forwarded to the State Medical Council for potential cancellation of their registrations.
Source: aajtak
The CBI, tasked with investigating this case, faced criticism in court for perceived negligence. During the hearing, the court scolded the CBI for being lax, emphasizing the need for a more thorough investigation. The CBI indicated that further questioning was necessary based on forensic reports of CCTV hard drives and the apprehended mobile phones of Sandeep Ghosh and Abhijit Mandal.
Consequently, the CBI filed for another round of custody of the accused, but offered no major revelations during the court hearing. As it stood, in the ten days leading up to the hearing, the CBI had not questioned Abhijit Mandal or Sandeep Ghosh even for a minute. Mandal's lawyer asserted, "My client has been in judicial custody for the past few days but has not been questioned at all."
On September 2, the CBI arrested Sandeep Ghosh, the ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on charges of financial irregularities. The CBI lawyer declared, "We believe there is a significant conspiracy behind this crime. The notification of the incident reached Tala Police Station at 10 AM, but officers arrived at 11 AM. An FIR was only filed after 11:30 PM that night. Notably, on that day, multiple conversations occurred between the Station's Officer-in-Charge and Sandeep Ghosh." Former Deputy Superintendent Dr. Akhtar Ali had lodged complaints regarding financial fraud in the institution against Ghosh.
Accusations included corpse smuggling, corruption in biomedical waste management, and nepotism in construction tenders. A case had been filed against Sandeep Ghosh on August 19 under IPC Section 120B, 420, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Section 7. Initially investigated by Kolkata Police, the high court later assigned the corruption investigation to the CBI.
