Supreme Court Rejects Plea in RG Kar Medical College Case

The Supreme Court dismissed Sandip Ghosh's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court order refusing his addition as a party in a petition alleging financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. The high court had transferred the probe from a state SIT to the CBI. The case pertains to a junior doctor's alleged murder and rape, leading to nationwide protests.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea filed by Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Ghosh had challenged a Calcutta High Court order that denied his addition as a party to a petition alleging financial misconduct during his tenure at the institute.

On August 23, the high court had ordered the transfer of the investigation into the financial irregularities from a state Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). A bench composed of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra stated that Ghosh, as an accused, lacked the standing to be included in the petition.

The alleged murder and rape of a junior doctor at the hospital have sparked nationwide protests. The victim's body, bearing severe injury marks, was discovered on August 9. In response, the Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer the following day. The high court's order came following a petition from Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent, who called for an Enforcement Directorate probe into the alleged financial misconduct during Ghosh's tenure. The court also rejected Ghosh's request to be added as a party to the petition, deeming him unnecessary to the matter.