In a significant development in the case of a 31-year-old PGT doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical Hospital, the Calcutta High Court has ordered the transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This decision came days before a deadline set by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had given local police six days to finish the probe. Banerjee had ordered that if the police failed to meet this deadline, the state government would recommend a CBI inquiry.
Decision Comes After Lack Of Local Police Investigation
The court’s intervention occurred at the first hearing of the horrendous case. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, who led the bench, expressed concern over the lack of progress in the local police investigation and the possibility of tampering with evidence. The court also criticized the hospital’s handling of the situation and the controversial reinstatement of Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College.
PILs Filed Reccommending Transfer To CBI
The high court’s decision followed multiple Public Interest Litigations (PILs) from the victim’s parents and others including BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. The petitions highlighted injuries on the victim’s body and claimed that there was no objection from the state government to transferring the case to the CBI. The victim’s parents also asked for protection for themselves.
Parents Given False Information, Made To Wait Hours To See The Body
The court’s order emphasized that transferring the case to the CBI was necessary to ensure a fair and thorough investigation, given the gravity of the situation and concern among citizens across the nation. The court noted that there had been significant delays and mismanagement in the initial investigation, including accusations that the victim’s parents were not allowed to see her body for several hours. Furthermore, the parents suspected that the hiding of information and their daughter’s body was intentional. They were initially falsely told that the victim was unwell and had later committed suicide.
Principal Of The Hospital Asked To Take Leave
Further criticism was directed at Dr. Ghosh for his lack of proactive measures and his quick reassignment to another high-profile role, which the court deemed inappropriate. The court has now asked Dr. Ghosh to take leave and not hold any official position until further notice. The hospital administration was also criticized for not filing a formal complaint immediately after the death, which contributed to the delay in the investigation. So far, the police have arrested one accused named Sanjoy Roy.