Kumar Bahukhandi
Kolkata: Vendor Biplab Sinha, who was arrested in connection with the financial irregularities in the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, had floated multiple business entities to bag contracts for supply of medical and non-medical material and for maintenance-related work orders in the hospital, sources aware of the developments said. Sinha is already in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is conducting a parallel probe along with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case. The ED, which has started an investigation in the money laundering angle in the case after filing an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), has tracked paper-trails of three such entities, all floated and owned by Sinha, which were regular participants in the bids for tenders floated by RG Kar authorities. Sources said that as per the paper trail, these companies were very effectively used while placing tender bids, where they quoted three different bid-prices, from low to high, to ensure that the entity quoting the lowest bid price was awarded the tender. These three entities, according to sources, are Maa Tara Traders, Baba Loknath Enterprises and Tiyasha Enterprises. While the first was the main entity which bagged these contracts quoting the lowest bid-price, the other two were basically on-paper entities meant for quoting higher bid-prices.
The CBI has already claimed at a special court in Kolkata that both Sinha and the other arrested vendor Suman Hazra, were close confidants of the former principal of RG Kar, Sandip Ghosh, who is also in CBI custody now. On Friday, ED officials conducted raid and search operations at different locations in connection with the case, including the residence of Sinha, from where the investigating officials secured important documents relating to these three business entities owned by him. ED officials are also probing the angle of disproportionate assets amassed by Sandip Ghosh. Meanwhile, the CBI officials probing the case of financial irregularities are carefully examining certain documents that point towards a major swindle.
The accessed documents pertain to medical equipment which were never purchased but billed to the hospital authorities over a period of time. Sources aware of the development said that the Central agency also got specific clues that all these forged bills were in the names of entities either owned by Biplab Sinha or Suman Hazra, both being regular suppliers of various items to RG. Kar and both being close to the former and controversial Principal of the medical college, Sandip Ghosh. Both Sinha and Hazra are currently in CBI custody along with Ghosh. Sources said that the investigating officials have also come across instances where existing costly medical accessories were “repaired” but shown as “newly purchased” and in that process, the fund allotted to the hospital from the State Government was misused.
As the investigating officials are going deeper in their probe, a clear picture of a major racket involving health department officials, RG Kar staff and vendors behind this orchestrated forgery is emerging where Ghosh played the main role. WB Medical Council issues show cause notice to Ghosh: THE West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) on Saturday September 7 issued a show cause notice to the former principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, Sandip Ghosh. Sources said that if Ghosh does not give any reply to the show case notice within the next 72 hours, his registration might be cancelled. Earlier, the State Health Department, too, announced the suspension of Ghosh from the state medical services on grounds of the on-going criminal proceedings against him. The controversial doctor is currently in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody for his alleged links with financial irregularities in RG Kar Hospital. Earlier, on August 28, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced the suspension of Ghosh from the association.
( Source ANI )
