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Kolkata, June 10, 2025 — The recent appointment of Dr. Indrajit Saha, former principal of North Bengal Medical College (NBMCH), as the Director of Medical Education (DME) for West Bengal has sparked significant controversy within the state’s medical community.
Allegations and Social Media Outcry
The uproar began after a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) by Dr. Anjay Bose, an MBBS graduate from AIIMS, who alleged that Dr. Saha was closely associated with the so-called “North Bengal Lobby” and had supported a “threat culture” during his tenure at NBMCH. Dr. Bose further accused Dr. Saha of facilitating the awarding of honours marks to students affiliated with the ruling party, allegedly through fraudulent means in MBBS professional exams.
Another doctor, Dr. Hardik Dave, questioned the rationale behind Dr. Saha’s appointment, criticizing the state government and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what he described as the continuation of corruption at the highest levels of medical administration.
Background to the Appointment
Dr. Saha’s appointment comes after nearly eight months of the DME post being held in an acting capacity by Aniruddha Neogi, following the transfer of former DME Dr. Kaustav Nayek in September 2024. According to the official notification dated May 8, 2025, Dr. Saha was selected due to his seniority and extensive administrative experience, with sources indicating he was the most qualified among the 13 applicants for the position.
Previous Allegations of Corruption
This is not the first time Dr. Saha has faced allegations. In October last year, 16 heads of department at NBMCH accused him of corruption and called for immediate action. These allegations emerged amidst widespread protests and unrest following the tragic rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. Despite the formation of an enquiry committee and several administrative actions—including student suspensions and staff removals—no action was reportedly taken against Dr. Saha himself.
Official Response and Next Steps
As of now, there has been no official response from the West Bengal Health Department regarding the allegations. The controversy continues to fuel debate over transparency and accountability in medical education administration in the state.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information reported by Medical Dialogues and other publicly available sources as of June 10, 2025. The allegations mentioned are as reported by individuals on social media and have not been independently verified. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and the views expressed in social media posts do not necessarily reflect those of this publication. For further updates, please refer to official statements from the West Bengal Health Department.
