Thanks to former Hospital Staff Akhtar Ali for Exposing Corruption
(Dr Shankar Chatterjee)
In the world, the barbaric incident at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Hospital is a piece of news because on the campus itself at late midnight on August 9, 2024, a bright, young, dynamic, scholarly lady medical doctor (31 years old) was brutally and sexually assaulted and barbaric way killed. After her death, Indians know how the drama took place to save the main culprits, where the CP of Kolkata came into the picture, along with many other ‘brainy people.’ After the heinous crime, the parents were informed by the Hospital staff that the “lady doctor had committed suicide.” The funny thing is that without any investigation, a corrupt official of the Hospital informed ‘suicide.’ Some top leaders of the ruling party of the state, on many occasions, roared against corruption in other States, including some of their MPs & MLAs. But here, many of them were silent, indicating ‘hypocrisy.’
The barbaric death of the medical doctor could not be manipulated because junior doctors and others were highly agitated. Even agitation spread to other states and abroad. Anyway, when the parents came to see the dead body of their only beloved daughter, they were asked to wait hours together. After that, the body was cremated, although 2/3 of the other dead bodies were in the row in order of serial number. These few examples glaringly reveal that her murder was a grand conspiracy. It is evident from different print media and social media that evidence had been tempered. One of the main culprits was the former Principal of the R. G. Kar Hospital, about whom many facts came up. The corrupted Principal is very close to the most influential leader of the State’s ruling party. Regarding corruption, it is noteworthy that the former staff of R.G. Kar Hospital, Akhtar Ali, submitted some documents without ignoring the Hospital’s top staff and local party leaders. So, thanks to Akhtar Ali.
Also, the funny thing is that the most powerful leader of the state, who held some important portfolios to divert attention, came out on the road for justice, which was simply mockery. The influential person’s behaviour was the joker type. Indians often laughed at the joker’s statement, albeit the person was influential. The people of the State are aware of ‘Haskhlai,’ and we all know who tried to save the culprits.
Former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College Akhtar Ali, in an interview with India Today, has claimed Dr Sandip Ghosh was involved in several illegal activities (India Today, by Rittick Mondal Kolkata, Aug 21, 2024, written By Abhishek De). “Sandip Ghosh used to do business with unclaimed dead bodies. A case was also registered against him. He was also involved in trafficking biomedical waste. He used to sell it to the people who were part of his additional security. It was then sent to Bangladesh,” the former deputy superintendent said.
Further, according to Ali, “Sandip Ghosh used to do business with unclaimed dead bodies. A case was also registered against him. He was also involved in trafficking biomedical waste. He used to sell it to the people who were part of his additional security. It was then sent to Bangladesh.” Also, some other points about corruption by the former Principal are- 1) ‘Sandip Ghosh took 20% Commission On Every Tender’, 2) Ali also asserted that Ghosh solicited bribes to pass students. “Some students were deliberately made to fail. So that he could recover the money,” 3) Ali also alleged that Sandip Ghosh had the support of many “powerful people,” noting how he was brought back as the head of the Hospital despite being transferred twice. For the benefit of readers, a few lines about R. G. Kar Hospital are presented (source: Wikipedia).
R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) is Asia’s first private medical college and hospital in Kolkata. It was established in 1886 to ensure self-sufficiency in medical education and services in the colonial era. In 1902, it moved to its complex, which included a school building and hospital. In 1904, it merged with the National College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal, and after that, it was renamed the Belgachia Medical College in 1916. From 1918 to 1948, the College was known as Carmichael Medical College in honor of Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, the Governor of Bengal. The Hospital was given its name on May 12, 1948, to honor Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar (now popularly known as R. G. Kar), who first conceived it.
If the people of the State cannot distinguish between a capable leader and a corrupt leader, then nothing can be said; simply, people will suffer.
(Dr Shankar Chatterjee is a former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR, Hyderabad, India)
