Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 6, 2024, Hooghly: The usually quiet neighborhood of Padripara in Ward No. 16 under the Hooghly Chandannagar Municipal Corporation was shaken on Friday morning when a team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), accompanied by central forces, arrived to conduct a raid. The target of their search was the residence of the father-in-law of Dr. Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, who was recently arrested by the CBI in connection with a high-profile corruption case.
The unexpected arrival of the ED and central forces caused a wave of speculation and curiosity among the local residents, who were left wondering about the nature of the raid. The news quickly spread throughout the neighborhood, drawing a crowd of onlookers trying to grasp the situation.
The ED team, upon reaching the residence, was reportedly met with a surprising discovery. The house of Dr. Ghosh’s father-in-law had been locked and unoccupied for a long time, leaving the ED officials without access to the property. Neighbors informed the ED team that the house had been closed for five to six years, with no recent activity or visitors. As a result, the officials left the location without carrying out any further investigation at the site.
Speaking to the media, a local resident said, “This house has been shut for years. We haven’t seen anyone coming or going for a long time. Because the house was closed, the ED couldn’t find anything or conduct their search properly.” The ED team, seemingly unprepared for the unoccupied state of the house, concluded their raid and departed, leaving behind more questions than answers.
The raid comes in the wake of the ongoing investigation into the financial corruption scandal at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where Dr. Sandeep Ghosh is alleged to have been involved in large-scale financial misconduct during his tenure as principal. The Calcutta High Court had previously ordered a CBI investigation into the corruption allegations, leading to Dr. Ghosh’s arrest. Following this, the ED also launched its probe, focusing on potential money laundering angles related to the case.
The raid at Dr. Ghosh’s father-in-law’s house suggests that the ED is expanding its investigation to explore any possible links or transactions that could be connected to the corruption case. The ED typically conducts such raids to uncover evidence of illicit financial activities, including hidden assets, unexplained wealth, or records of transactions that could substantiate allegations of corruption and money laundering.
While the raid did not yield immediate results due to the house being vacant, it underscores the seriousness with which the central agencies are pursuing the RG Kar corruption case. The involvement of both the CBI and ED highlights the complexity of the investigation, with authorities likely probing multiple leads to build a comprehensive case.
The ED’s action also indicates that family members and associates of those directly accused, such as Dr. Ghosh, could also be under scrutiny as investigators look into all possible avenues of financial misconduct. The fact that the ED went ahead with the raid despite the house being uninhabited for years may suggest that they are following a specific lead or tip-off that connects the property to the ongoing investigation.
The raid has sparked a range of reactions from the local residents and those following the case closely. While the immediate outcome of the raid was inconclusive, the mere presence of ED and central forces in a residential area is enough to generate a buzz and heighten the sense of anticipation surrounding the case.
Meanwhile, officials from the ED have remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the raid and the broader scope of their investigation. However, sources indicate that more such actions could be on the horizon as the agency continues to follow the money trail and uncover the depth of the corruption scandal at RG Kar Medical College.
As the investigations by both the CBI and ED progress, it is expected that further raids and actions will be carried out to bring to light the full extent of the financial irregularities and to hold those responsible accountable. The unfolding situation continues to be a closely watched development, both for its legal implications and for the impact it may have on the state’s medical and administrative landscape.