West Bengal Doctors’ Protest Extends Amid Corruption Investigation

The ongoing protest by doctors at the Arar Medical Hospital in West Bengal has been extended until August 31st, following recent developments in the state’s healthcare crisis. The protest, led by junior and senior doctors demanding safer work environments, has prompted the Kolkata police to extend prohibitory orders around the hospital for an additional week.

On Saturday, a meeting intended to address the concerns of the protesting doctors and restore normalcy was deemed unsuccessful. The West Bengal Health Department had hoped to persuade the doctors to return to work, but the dialogue did not yield a resolution.

This unrest comes in the wake of a significant legal development. The Kolkata High Court recently ordered the transfer of the investigation into corruption at the hospital from a special investigation team set up by the West Bengal government to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The move follows allegations of financial irregularities at the Arar Medical College and Hospital.

Amid the investigation, Sanjay Roy, a key figure in the scandal, reportedly broke down during a magistrate’s questioning. Roy, who had agreed to a polygraph test, expressed his distress, claiming he was being framed and maintained his innocence.

In parallel, CBI officials conducted search operations involving former hospital principal Sandeep Go, ex-medical superintendent Sanish, and 13 others. These searches are part of a broader probe into alleged financial misconduct at the institute.

In a related development, Roy’s mother-in-law has hinted at broader involvement in the scandal, recounting a troubled relationship with Roy. She suggested that Roy could not have acted alone, implying that others may be implicated in the alleged financial irregularities.