The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday observed that the financial irregularities at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital could have a far-reaching impact on the internal administrative system of government functioning.

A division bench comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Gaurang Kanth noted that, beyond administrative affairs, the state’s healthcare system could also suffer adverse consequences due to the nature of the crime.

The primary allegations in the R.G. Kar financial irregularities case include manipulations in the institute’s tendering process, outsourcing infrastructure-related work by bypassing the state’s Public Works Department, smuggling of biomedical waste, and the illicit sale of organs from unidentified bodies brought to the hospital morgue for autopsies.

The chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) names five key accused in the case: former R.G. Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, his assistant-cum-bodyguard Afsar Ali, private contractors Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra, and junior doctor Ashish Pandey. All of them are currently in judicial custody. The chargesheet identifies Ghosh as the mastermind behind the scam.

The division bench directed the CBI to ensure that all case-related documents are handed over to the counsels of the accused by Wednesday. It also instructed the defense counsels to update the special court, where the charge-framing and trial process is set to take place, upon receiving the documents.

The next hearing before the division bench is scheduled for February 18, during which an estimate on the timeline for the charge-framing process at the special court is expected to emerge.

IANS