[caption id="attachment_18958" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Bengal Medical Council Revokes Registration of RG Kar Ex-Principal Sandip Ghosh Amid Rape-Murder Case[/caption] The West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) has cancelled the registration of Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, following his arrest in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at the hospital. Ghosh is also facing charges related to financial irregularities during his tenure.

Medical License Cancelled Under Bengal Medical Act

The WBMC took swift action on Thursday, officially removing Ghosh from the list of Registered Medical Practitioners, as per the provisions of the Bengal Medical Act, 1914. According to reports, Ghosh’s registration was revoked after his failure to respond to a show-cause notice issued earlier in the month. The council had demanded an explanation from Ghosh on September 7, 2024, giving him three days to justify why his registration should not be cancelled. However, Ghosh, currently in CBI custody, did not reply.

IMA Push for Action Against Ghosh

The cancellation of Ghosh's registration followed pressure from the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Bengal chapter, which had urged the WBMC to take immediate action. The IMA had written to WBMC president and TMC MLA Sudipto Roy, criticizing the delay in Ghosh’s removal from the medical registry and suggesting Roy’s personal connections with Ghosh could be influencing the decision. The IMA emphasized the need for decisive action, given the severity of the allegations.

Allegations of Evidence Tampering and Delayed FIR

Dr. Sandip Ghosh’s arrest on September 2, 2024, along with police officer Abhijit Mondal, stemmed from their alleged involvement in tampering with evidence linked to the rape-murder case. The victim, a 31-year-old trainee doctor, was found dead in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College on August 9, 2024. The CBI has accused Ghosh and Mondal of facilitating the hurried cremation of the doctor’s body, despite her family’s demand for a second autopsy. Additionally, they are accused of delaying the filing of a First Information Report (FIR), which raised suspicions about a cover-up. The CBI’s remand note revealed that Ghosh had been "willfully absent" from the crime scene on the day the doctor’s body was found. His absence, along with the mishandling of the case, contributed to the growing pressure for the authorities to act.

Sole Accused Sanjay Roy in Custody

In the meantime, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, remains the only person arrested in direct connection with the rape and murder of the doctor. Roy was taken into custody shortly after the incident, and the investigation has since been handed over to the CBI following an order from the Calcutta High Court.

Next Steps in the Case

The revocation of Sandip Ghosh’s medical registration is a major step, but the case continues to unfold as more evidence is uncovered. Ghosh and Mondal’s role in allegedly tampering with evidence and obstructing justice is under intense scrutiny, and the CBI is expected to pursue further leads in the coming days. For now, the medical community in Bengal is grappling with the fallout from the case, with many calling for reforms to ensure such incidents are not repeated. Stay tuned for more updates as this high-profile investigation progresses.