Kolkata: The CBI has uncovered new leads in its probe into the multi-crore financial irregularities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The agency has now discovered that a private company, Maa Tara Traders, which is linked to the controversial former Principal of the hospital, Sandip Ghosh, may have been awarded similar contracts at other state-run hospitals.
Private agency linked to multiple hospitals
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Biplab Sinha, the owner of Maa Tara Traders, is a close associate of Sandip Ghosh, who was arrested by the CBI and is currently in judicial custody. Ghosh is accused of being involved in awarding illegal contracts for medical equipment and infrastructure projects at R.G. Kar. According to sources, Maa Tara Traders not only provided supplies to R.G. Kar but also to several other state-run hospitals, including the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, Howrah District Hospital, Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, and S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital.
Suspicious contracts and overpriced bids
The CBI has informed a special court in Kolkata about its findings, which suggest that Maa Tara Traders may have been awarded contracts through questionable means. One of the main allegations is that Ghosh awarded a major contract for setting up a skill laboratory at R.G. Kar to Maa Tara Traders, despite the company having no prior experience in similar technical projects.
In addition to this, sources say the contract price for the skill laboratory was significantly inflated. The bid awarded to Sinha’s company was around Rs 2.97 crore, while a similar project at another hospital was completed for only about Rs 70 lakh. This price difference has raised serious questions about the transparency and fairness of the bidding process.
Agency
Published: 08 Nov 2024, 08:06 am IST
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