The plot thickens in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital corruption saga. Akhtar Ali, hailed initially as the courageous whistleblower exposing financial misconduct, now faces charges from the CBI in the very scam he helped uncover. The agency will frame formal charges against him on February 25.
Alipore CBI Court approved the CBI’s application on Tuesday, mandating Ali’s presence for the proceedings. This follows a supplementary chargesheet suggesting the probe isn’t over, pending forensic evidence.
Background: Amid outrage over a trainee doctor’s brutal rape-murder, Ali accused Principal Sandeep Ghosh of siphoning funds. Courts directed CBI and ED probes, leading to Ghosh’s arrest alongside aides. But evidence turned against Ali, implicating him in the fraud. He dodged summonses, prompting a chargesheet and surrender order after a failed bail bid.
Remanded earlier, Ali reappeared Tuesday without seeking bail. The court greenlit charges against him and Shashikant Chandak. Page 29 of the chargesheet flags ongoing inquiries, signaling more revelations.
This reversal highlights the double-edged sword of whistleblowing in corrupt systems. Was Ali a hero or part of the problem? With RG Kar’s dark chapter still fresh—marked by protests and political uproar—the case tests investigative rigor and judicial oversight.
Stakeholders await forensic outcomes that could ensnare more players. For now, Ali’s fate hangs in balance, a stark reminder that truth in corruption battles often blurs lines between accuser and accused.