The governor's secretariat in Raj Bhavan has sent a letter to the Bengal chief secretary, seeking a CBI investigation of the alleged malpractices during exams and the highhandedness of some junior and resident doctors at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

The letter was sent on September 13 by a deputy secretary posted at Raj Bhavan, while referring to a letter sent by Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista to governor C.V. Ananda Bose on September 10.

“I am directed to request you to kindly look into the matter and take necessary action under intimation to this office,” reads the governor's letter that came into public domain on Monday.

Earlier this month, protests had rocked NBMCH many junior doctors and students had alleged that some junior and resident doctors resorted to highhandedness and intimidation. These people, with links to Avik Dey, an ex-student of NBMCH and a Trinamool student leader, who was reportedly close to arrested former RG Kar medical college principal Sandip Ghosh, also indulged in exam malpractices, they alleged.

It was also alleged that Dey was seen at RG Kar on the day when the rape and murder of the junior doctor. Trinamool Chhatra Parishad suspended Dey based on the charge.

The protests forced the dean and the deputy dean of student affairs to step down.

As the issue became public, Bista had expressed concern over the situation in NBMCH. On September 10, he wrote to the governor, seeking a CBI probe.

“The junior doctors had alleged that TMC leaders were involved in intimidating them, physically harassing them, manipulating exam results, tampering marks in favour of TMC leaders and their supporters, deducting marks of doctors who complained, physically harassing female students, extorting students who live in the hostel,” said Bista.

“That is why I had requested the governor in writing. I thank him for passing the instruction to the chief secretary and hope the state government takes appropriate steps,” Bista added.

Shankar Ghosh, the BJP MLA of Siliguri, said the state government would have to take a call.

“After the RG Kar incident, names of some doctors with links with north Bengal have surfaced over corruption. It was found that this lobby was active in NBMCH and was involved in various malpractices. The state should ask the CBI for a probe,” said Ghosh.

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh slammed governor Bose: “He is acting like a BJP leader. Sending such a letter to the state government based on a BJP MP's letter proves it.”