Kolkata rape-murder case: ED searches house of RG Kar ex-principal - Sandip Ghosh’s father, Satya Prakash Ghosh

Kolkata rape-murder case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches related to financial irregularities at the state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital across Kolkata and suburbs, reported ANI. The search operation was conducted at several sites in West Bengal's capital, including the residence of former principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital Sandip Ghosh's father, Satya Prakash Ghosh.

According to an official, the search operations were conducted at at the residences and offices of persons "close" to Sandip Ghosh. ED officials raided flat of Chandan Louhya in Kolkata’s Tala area in addition to an office in Kalindi. The search operation was also conducted in ancestral home in Chinar Park in North 24 Parganas district.

"Our officers are questioning Louhya and his wife. She had been shown favour by Ghosh in granting a tender," PTI quoted an official as saying. He added, "There is another team looking for documents at the office of an organisation, which used to supply equipment to RG Kar hospital." The official alleged that there are suspicions of “dubious transactions between the medical establishment and this organisation."

A trainee postgraduate doctor was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar Hospital on August 9. She was found semi-naked with external and internal injuries. The incident sparked nationwide protests demanding justice and strike by medical practitioners including doctors over security concerns.

On Wednesday, the West Bengal Medical Council in Kolkata organised a rally over the incident. The rally banners stated, "In demand of punishment for all rapist-murderers and their accomplices in the Abhaya rape and murder case," reported ANI. Agitating doctors held long procession, raised slogans and banners to voice their demand for justice in the gruesome case.

The rally came hours after the protesting doctors of the RG Kar Hospital refused to accept West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee invitation for talks. In order to resolve the impasse over doctors' refusal to return to work, the West Bengal CM had invited them for discussion at the state secretariat. The doctors allege that they refused to attend because it was said to be a closed-door meeting.

Dr Aqeeb said, "The mail that we received yesterday was from the principal secretary and it was written that there is a meeting with senior government officials, stating it to be a closed-door meeting. We refused it because we were against the closed-door meeting," reported ANI.

The doctors' representatives have put forth five demands in a mail addressed to the CM office. The demands stipulated that individuals obstructing justice should resign. Furthermore, elections ought to be held; the college council should be given recognition, and it should comprise elected rather than appointed representatives, among others.

(With agency inputs)