Doctor
The Calcutta High Court has ordered the transfer of the investigation into the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court cited significant shortcomings in the hospital administration’s actions following the discovery of the doctor’s body in the seminar hall on Friday, with her clothes in disarray and injuries on her body. The victim’s parents requested an independent investigation to ensure the integrity of the evidence.
The court criticized Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the college, for his lack of proactive measures. It also questioned the state government’s decision to appoint Dr. Ghosh as Principal of another medical college, Calcutta National Medical College, just hours after his resignation, calling for him to be immediately relieved of his duties and placed on leave. Dr. Ghosh had resigned, citing the humiliation he faced on social media after the incident, which led to protests among doctors who questioned the urgency of his new appointment.
The court expressed concern that Dr. Ghosh, as the first person who should have been questioned, had not yet had his statement recorded by investigators. It also noted that the hospital administration did not support the victim or her family and highlighted the risk of evidence tampering. Given the lack of significant progress in the investigation by state police, the court deemed it necessary to transfer the case to the CBI to prevent any further loss of evidence.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had previously stated that if the police investigation was not completed by Sunday, the state government would recommend a CBI probe at the request of the victim’s parents. The decision for a CBI investigation comes amid demands from opposition parties, including the BJP, who warned of potential evidence tampering if the state police handled the case.
