Ashish Pandey, a prominent Trinamool Congress leader and staff member at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged involvement in tender irregularities. Pandey, who is accused of using his political connections to influence contract awards for medical equipment and infrastructure projects, will be produced in a special court today.
Pandey is reportedly a close associate of the former principal of RG Kar, Sandip Ghosh, and is believed to have played a key role in ensuring that contracts were awarded to favored vendors. Before his arrest on Thursday, Pandey allegedly attempted to mislead investigators, prompting the CBI to take him into custody for further questioning.
In addition to financial misconduct, Pandey has faced allegations of fostering a ‘threat culture’ at the hospital, further intensifying scrutiny. The CBI plans to seek his custody during the court hearing to continue their investigation into the broader financial scam.
Former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Santanu Sen has called for strict action against individuals like Pandey, whom he claims are damaging the party from within. He also stressed the importance of identifying those who support such behavior, suggesting that they too should face disciplinary measures.
Pandey’s arrest marks the fifth in connection with the financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital. Previous arrests include former principal Sandip Ghosh, along with Afsar Ali, Suman Hazra, and Biplab Sinha—all of whom were involved in various roles during Ghosh’s tenure at the institution.