Former principal Sandip Ghosh directed renovations and repairs at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata a day after the body of a 31-year-old trainee doctor was found on August 9. The directive, sent to the Public Works Department (PWD) on August 10, requested urgent repairs, renovations, and reconstruction of on-duty doctors’ rooms across various departments, and was signed by Ghosh.
Sandip Ghosh, who was removed from his position following widespread criticism, issued a letter stating, “I wish to inform you of a deficiency in on-duty doctors’ rooms and separate attached toilets across various departments at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. I request that you address these issues promptly, as per the demands of the resident doctors. This matter has been discussed and resolved in today’s meeting with the Principal Secretary of the Department of Health & Family Welfare and the Director of Medical Education, Department of Health & Family Welfare, West Bengal. Please take immediate action.”
The letter’s subject emphasised: “Urgent repair, renovation, and reconstruction of on-duty doctors’ rooms and separate attached toilets in all departments of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata,” underscoring the immediate need for action.
The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the state Government of attempting to tamper with evidence at the crime scene following the discovery of remodelling work. The Calcutta High Court had previously criticised the state Government, questioning the rush to renovate sections of the emergency building’s third floor, where the heinous crime occurred. The court also directed the state government to address allegations that crucial evidence was destroyed during renovations around the seminar hall in the chest department of the emergency building.
The high court questioned the urgency of providing a restroom within 12 hours, asking, “Is it really so critical to have a restroom urgently? Visit any district court complex and check if there are restrooms for women. I state this with responsibility. What has the PWD accomplished? Observe the condition of the restrooms in court complexes.” In response, the Government’s lawyer denied the allegations, asserting, “Claims that the crime scene has been demolished or destroyed are inaccurate. The demolition work conducted was not near the crime scene.”
The victim’s family revealed that the hospital authorities initially claimed the woman had committed suicide, which led to scrutiny of Sandip Ghosh’s role in allegedly attempting to downplay and cover up the case. The victim’s father reported that they were made to wait over three hours to view their daughter’s body. On the evening of September 2nd, Sandip Ghosh was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation for his alleged involvement in financial misconduct, including selling unclaimed bodies, extorting students, and receiving kickbacks from medicine suppliers.
Nationwide protests erupted among healthcare professionals over workplace safety after the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in a hospital seminar hall. Sanjay Roy, a community volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was taken into custody in connection with the case. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Government has faced severe criticism for its alleged efforts to cover up the incident, suppress protests, and even confront demonstrators as the shocking details emerged. In Kolkata, doctors are continuing their strike demanding justice, and many common people have also joined in.
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