Kolkata rape-murder: CBI lens on biomedical waste scam flagged earlier at RG Kar Hospital
Times of India | 2 September 2024
KOLKATA: CBI officers probing financial corruption at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital are looking into alleged scams that were earlier flagged at the institute.
The agency came across documents related to an inquiry committee report related to disposal of biomedical waste at RG Kar, sources said. Improper disposal of biomedical waste was spotted in 2022-2023 and an inquiry panel set up.
The committee report mentioned the name of a worker at the common collection plant of the hospital who was questioned about the biomedical waste. The name of a caretaker of a guest house on the hospital premises also surfaced during the inquiry.
The worker mentioned three names, including that of a security guard close to former principal Sandip Ghosh. It was found that the security guard showed the worker ways to make money from biomedical waste.
Each day, biomedical waste, like syringes, gloves, and used saline bottles, are generated in the hospital. These, when recycled properly, have a huge demand in some of the countries.
The agency also came across names of two biomedical waste recycling firms from other states. The agency is likely to question the two firms, including transporters of the waste.
One firm, which was given the job to transport biomedical waste, was also questioned by the inquiry committee.
The firm alleged that the volume of biomedical waste generated in the hospital was getting lower each day.
After the inquiry report spotted discrepancies, several quarters inside the hospital went on alert and one of the key persons overseeing the operation of the alleged sale of biomedical waste was asked to stay off the radar of any possible probe, sources said.
The agency, which is looking into several allegations of corruption at RG Kar, visited the hospital on Sunday.
Investigation into alleged corruption in the hospital was handed over to CBI and ED after two separate orders from the Calcutta high court.