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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a high-profile investigation into alleged corruption at Kolkata's renowned RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, conducting coordinated raids on 14 locations. The probe, initiated following a directive from the High Court, targeted former principal Sandip Ghosh's residence and premises linked to health department officials and two vendors suspected of involvement in the alleged irregularities. The CBI's investigation, based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed the previous day, names Ghosh, Khoma Louha, owner of Eshan Cafe on the hospital campus, and Ma Tara Traders as key figures in the alleged corruption scheme.
The raids commenced at 6.45am on Sunday with CBI officers from the anti-corruption branch arriving at Ghosh's four-story home in Beliaghata, central Kolkata. Despite repeated knocks and calls, Ghosh initially remained unresponsive, prompting the CBI team to visit the Beliaghata police station to inquire about his whereabouts. After approximately 70 minutes, Ghosh opened the door, allowing the CBI team access to his residence, where a crowd had gathered outside. The interrogation of Ghosh and the search of his house continued until late evening. Another CBI team simultaneously visited the residence of Sanjay Vashishth, former MS and vice-principal of RG Kar, in Entally, south Kolkata. Following questioning, some officers proceeded to Vashisth's other home in Tangra, an area known for its tannery and Chinese eateries. Vashisth has previously been interrogated by the Special Crime Branch of the agency in a separate rape-murder case.
The investigation also extended to the residence of Debashish Som, the former forensic medicine demonstrator at RG Kar, in Kestopur. Som, once known for his close ties to Ghosh, was subsequently taken to the CBI's office at Nizam Palace for questioning. The CBI also questioned two hospital vendors. In Howrah, a CBI team visited the office of medical equipment supplier Biplab Sinha, owner of Tara Ma Traders. In Tallah, they raided the residence of Khoma Louha, the cafe owner, and took her husband Chandan Louha, a school employee, to an undisclosed location for nearly an hour. Ghosh is reportedly planning to move a petition to a regular bench on Monday, challenging the legitimacy of the CBI investigation without a prior hearing.
Source: CBI raids house of RG Kar ex-principal Sandip Ghosh, 13 other locations