The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital along with the CBI, questioned on Wednesday Akhtar Ali, a former deputy superintendent (non-medical) of the hospital.

Sources said the ED quizzed him on alleged nepotism in selecting vendors by Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar who has been arrested in connection with alleged corruption at the hospital.

In a letter to the state vigilance commission on July 14, 2023, Ali had said Ghosh and a few others were involved in corrupt practices.

ED sources said Ali’s statements are crucial for the probe.

In the 2023 letter, Ali had said a nodal agency responsible for the transportation of the hospital’s bio-medical waste had not been receiving waste in adequate quantity “for the last five-six months”.

The letter said contracts amounting to crores of rupees were given to a few bidders who were not even eligible to bid.

Ali’s letter and his subsequent petition in the high court led to a judicial order to the CBI to investigate the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar.

Sources said the central agency is also investigating whether Ghosh was behind nepotism in awarding contracts.