123 Kolkata: The Bengal govt plans to start a departmental proceeding (DP) against former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and a fact-finding committee is probing financial irregularities. Earlier, the health department had filed an FIR against Ghosh for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities and corruption.
A Nabanna official said the state will start the DP once it collects all the data and there is irrefutable evidence against Ghosh. "As a principal, he used to avail of non-practising allowance. So he was ineligible to practice as a surgeon. The probe will check if he had disproportionate assets in comparison to his known sources of income," the official said.
State officials are also keeping a close watch on developments in the CBI probe. Once CBI files a charge sheet against Ghosh, it will be easier for them to start the DP.
Once the charges are framed by the fact-finding committee and the authority starts the DP, the charges will be sent to Ghosh. An official said that as the accused gets a scope to appear before the committee, the panel might meet him in jail or he can be represented by a lawyer. "For submission of his statement to the enquiry committee, he has to send it through the jail superintendent," the official said.
The fact-finding team is zeroing in on the asset declaration by Ghosh and the service postings and years when he acquired the properties and bought cars. Earnings of his family members are also under scrutiny.
"Ghosh's salary and his savings per month would be scrutinised. The standard norm says one is expected to spend 30% to 40% of salary on household expenses and other expenditures. If he took departmental permission for buying assets, his yearly statements of assets along with his bank statements would be verified. Also, the tenders conducted by Ghosh and the audit reports would be scanned," a source said.
But another official felt that once Ghosh gets bail, he could appeal to the health department to withdraw his suspension to get reinstated. "If he gets exonerated in court, then he can even claim full pay during his custody period."