Kolkata, Jan 28: The West Bengal government has finally given the no-objection certificate (NOC) for beginning the process to frame charges and subsequent trial process against Sandip Ghosh, the former and controversial principal of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

He was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the multi-crore financial irregularities at the said medical entity.

This was informed by the CBI counsel at a single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday.

It is learnt that the state government gave the NOC on Monday evening.

Accordingly, the single judge bench of Tirthankar Ghosh has directed to complete the process of charges-framing and to begin the subsequent trial process within a week.

On Tuesday, the CBI also submitted a progress report of the investigation into the matter in a sealed envelope to the Calcutta High Court.

The CBI counsel also informed the court that their investigation is at the final stage.

Besides CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also conducting a parallel probe into the case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar.

While CBI started its investigation following an order by the Calcutta High Court, the ED made a suo motu entry in the matter to investigate the money laundering angle after filing an enforcement case information report (ECIR).

Altogether five persons have been named by CBI in its charge sheet in the case. They are Sandip Ghosh, his assistant-cum- bodyguard Afsar Alir, private contractors Biplab Sinha and Suman Hazra and a junior doctor Ashish Pandey. All of them are in judicial custody now. The main charges in the case include manipulation in the tendering process of R.G. Kar, getting infrastructure-related work done there by private contractors bypassing the state public works department against the hefty commission, smuggling of bio-medical wastes from the hospital outside and finally selling organs of the unidentified bodies coming to R.G. Kar morgue for post-mortem purposes in the open market at premium prices.

Mumbai: In a sensational twist in the murder case of former MLA Baba Siddiqui, his son, Zeeshan Siddique, has claimed in his statement to the police that the Bandra slum redevelopment project played a key role in the crime. He also mentioned the names of Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) MLA Adv. Anil Parab and BJP leader Mohit Kamboj in connection with the issue.

Zeeshan Siddique’s Serious Allegations 

In his statement, Zeeshan Siddiqui referred to the Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar slum redevelopment project and the alleged pressure exerted by developers. He claimed that his father, Baba Siddique, was fighting for the rights of slum dwellers, which led to conflicts with real estate developers and police pressure through false cases.

Zeeshan Siddique has alleged that on October 12, 2024 – the day of the murder – his father had written Mohit Kamboj’s name in his personal diary. Furthermore, just hours before the killing, between 5:30 and 6:00 PM, Baba Siddique and Mohit Kamboj had a conversation over WhatsApp.

According to Zeeshan, Mundra Builders was planning a redevelopment project in Bandra East, and Mohit Kamboj wanted to meet Baba Siddique to discuss it. He also claimed that slum dwellers had shared video evidence showing builders using derogatory language against his father.

No Mention Of Anmol Bishnoi’s Gang In Zeeshan’s Statement

The Mumbai police have alleged that Baba Siddiqui was killed at the behest of Anmol Bishnoi’s gang. However, Zeeshan did not mention Anmol Bishnoi or his gang in his statement, raising further questions about the real motive behind the murder.

26 Arrests So Far In The Case 

The investigation has led to the arrest of 26 people so far. Zeeshan Siddiqui has demanded a detailed probe into the redevelopment project and the role of real estate developers, urging authorities to investigate all possible angles in the murder case.

Chhatrapati Sambhainagar: A MCOCA court in Beed on Monday remanded Sudarshan Ghule, an accused in the sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, to the CID custody till January 31 allowing the police to investigate the digital data and seized mobile phones.

Ghule was produced in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court. Earlier, he was remanded in judicial custody on January 18.

Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was abducted, tortured, and murdered on December 9 allegedly for attempting to stop an extortion bid on an energy firm in Beed district. Police registered murder and extortion cases.

Seven persons were arrested in the murder case. Walmik Karad, a close aide of Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, was arrested in the extortion case.

The state government pleader told reporters that the court remanded Ghule to the CID custody till January 31.

“The stringent MCOCA was invoked against Ghule for further investigation. Police want to investigate digital data recovered in the crime. Police also want to check his mobile phone but it’s locked by a password,” the pleader told reporters.

A lawyer representing Ghule said police had already seized his mobile phones.

“The prosecution demanded a ten-day custody for Ghule but the court gave CID five days. The police want to inquire about digital evidence and mobile phone passwords even though phones were seized earlier,” he said.