Hours before rape-murder at Kolkata medical college, principal ‘flouted norms’ at his ‘private clinic’

As the principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Sandeep Ghosh allegedly attended a private clinic and even issued a prescription without his registration number – in violation of norms – on August 8.

This was hours before before a trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall inside the government-run institute. And before Ghosh came under cloud over his alleged negligence in reporting the incident to the police and over alleged financial irregularities. 

Ghosh, who was arrested by the CBI on September 2, was on Tuesday sent to judicial custody until September 23 in the corruption case.

Meanwhile, CBI officials told Newslaundry that Ghosh used to visit Namita Sebayatan – a facility in Kolkata’s Baruipur that provides chambers for private medical practice. The agency has also taken cognisance of a medical prescription dated August 8 which allegedly mentions him as “S Ghosh” without his registration number. 

According to clause 1.4.1 of the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, every physician must display their registration number on all prescriptions and certificates.

Newslaundry had earlier detailed Ghosh’s controversial career.

Call details and a pamphlet

It was Ghosh’s cellphone that led the CBI to the medical prescription, sources said.

“We were examining the locations of the towers from where Ghosh’s cellphone had received signals in the past few months. The detailed study of the location of Ghosh’s cellphone showed his frequent presence in a particular place in Baruipur. He was even present in Baruipur on August 8, the day when the rape-and-murder victim was performing her last shift,” said a CBI officer.

Further investigation led agency sleuths to Namita Sebayatan.

According to officials, a pamphlet distributed by the facility mentions Ghosh as among the orthopaedicians who visited the place. “The list of doctors written in Bengali clearly mentioned the name of professor Dr Sandeep Ghosh and his attachment with the RG Kar Hospital. We have also come to know that the clinic suddenly stopped distributing the pamphlets mentioning Ghosh’s name. We are yet to find out the reason,” said an officer.

When Newslaundry dialled the private facility’s phone number, the receptionist refused to comment.

“We realised that the doctor was actually the principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital when we saw him on TV screens the day after the rape-and-murder incident. He was known as S Ghosh to locals in Baruipur,” said a relative of a 46-year-old woman who was issued the prescription dated August 8.