A BJP leader allegedly heckled and verbally abused the superintendent of Ranaghat sub-divisional hospital in Nadia district on Thursday after the official refused to issue a medical certificate without examining the patient, prompting police to begin a probe.
The incident allegedly took place around 2pm in superintendent Prahlad Adhikari’s chamber while he was holding a meeting with two doctors. According to police and hospital sources, Swapan Ghosh, vice-president of the BJP’s Nadia North organisational district and an aide of Ranaghat South MLA Ashim Kumar Biswas, entered the chamber and demanded a certificate stating that a patient was physically incapacitated and unable to sign her name.
Adhikari told The Telegraph that he informed Ghosh he could not issue the certificate without examining the patient. The superintendent alleged that the response enraged Ghosh, who then moved towards him in an apparent attempt to attack him and shouted abusive language.
“He rushed towards me in an apparent attempt to attack me and began shouting filthy abuses,” Adhikari was quoted as saying. He added that the two doctors present tried to restrain Ghosh and that he called the police. Ghosh allegedly left the hospital before the police arrived.
Ranaghat police started an investigation based on a complaint filed by Adhikari. The report does not state whether any person has been arrested or whether charges have been formally framed in the case.
Ghosh denied the superintendent’s allegations. He said he had requested the official to declare a patient physically incapacitated because she was paralytic and could not withdraw her Annapurna Yojana benefit. The Annapurna scheme provides food support to eligible beneficiaries, and access to welfare-related services can require documentation establishing a person’s condition or eligibility.
Ghosh acknowledged that the superintendent’s refusal led to a heated verbal exchange but denied that he attempted to attack or abuse Adhikari. “I requested (Adhikari) to declare a patient physically incapacitated because she is paralytic and can’t withdraw her Annapurna Yojana benefit,” he told reporters. He added that “nothing more” happened beyond the argument.
The dispute highlights the administrative role of government hospitals in certifying medical conditions for access to public benefits. A certificate stating that a person is unable to sign or appear for a transaction can have consequences for how welfare payments are accessed, making the examining doctor’s assessment central to the process.
The hospital superintendent’s stated position was that such a certificate could not be issued without examining the patient. The police probe will now determine the circumstances of the confrontation and examine the complaint filed by the hospital official. The source report did not provide details of the patient’s identity, the medical records involved, or the next procedural step in the investigation.
