Kolkata Police have arrested Rajkishore Ram in connection with an alleged extortion case at the SSKM Hospital premises, following a complaint that money was demanded from workers at a hostel canteen in the name of a blood donation camp.
Ram was arrested by officers of Bhabanipur police station from his residence on Turf Road in the Kalighat police station area late on Sunday night, according to information attributed to Lalbazar. Police said the accused is the son of a former SSKM Hospital employee.
The alleged incident took place in July, when some workers at the hospital campus organised a blood donation camp. According to the police account reported by Anandabazar, Ram allegedly approached workers at the canteen of the Rajkishore MBBS Hostel and demanded money in the name of the camp.
The canteen workers initially refused to pay, the report said. They later allegedly transferred several thousand rupees to Ram through UPI. Police said the accused was not satisfied with the payment and allegedly vandalised the canteen while continuing to demand money.
A complaint was subsequently filed against him at Bhabanipur police station. Ram allegedly left the area after the complaint was registered, according to the report. Police later received information that he had returned to his home on Sunday night. A team from Bhabanipur police then surrounded the area and arrested him.
Investigators have found preliminary evidence against Ram in the alleged extortion case, police sources said. The report also stated that he has links with a political party, although it did not identify the organisation or provide details of the alleged connection.
The arrest comes after a separate police operation against alleged touting at SSKM Hospital. According to the report, six alleged touts were arrested from the hospital last month. Lalbazar has said that it is following a zero-tolerance policy against alleged touting and extortion at the hospital, the report added.
The allegations against Ram have not been established by a court. Police are also attempting to arrest some of his alleged associates, according to the report. The case places renewed attention on unauthorised money demands and intermediary activity within the premises of a major public hospital, where patients, attendants and service workers interact with multiple administrative and support systems.
The police investigation will now focus on the alleged payment trail, the complaint and the identification of any other people connected with the case. Further arrests will depend on the investigation, while the accused will have the opportunity to respond through the legal process.
