The Tala police station in Kolkata detained five individuals for questioning regarding the death of Arup Bandopadhyay, who was trapped in an elevator at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital for over an hour. Following a complaint by the deceased’s father, the police registered an FIR citing culpable homicide. The preliminary post-mortem report revealed fractures in Arup’s rib bones, hand bones, and leg bones, along with injuries to his lungs, heart, and liver.
Allegations surfaced that no elevator operator was present when Arup got stuck in the malfunctioning elevator, with no staff available to assist during the incident. The hospital’s Medical Superintendent confirmed that the family’s complaint had been forwarded to the police. Family members claimed that the elevator malfunctioned, causing panic as it moved up and down before trapping Arup between the elevator and the wall.
The absence of an elevator operator or supporting staff was acknowledged as an administrative lapse by the hospital authorities. R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital had previously made headlines due to a tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a female doctor on the premises in August 2024. Subsequent investigations uncovered financial irregularities at the hospital, with allegations suggesting a link between the rape incident and awareness of these irregularities. Sandip Ghosh, a former principal at the hospital, was arrested for his alleged involvement in the financial misconduct and is currently in custody.
