[RG Kar Rape-Murder] Victim’s Father Writes To SC | “Address Issues Flagged In Letter”: CJI Chandrachud Directs CBI

The Supreme Court Today (Sept 17) directed the the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take note of the issues flagged in a letter filed by father of the rape and murder victim at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. CJI Chandrachud said that the father of the deceased has made some suggestions on the leads that should be taken for investigation and the court is not making it public, but will say that these are valuable inputs and CBI should look into this.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to thoroughly investigate the issues raised by the father of the victim in the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The court acknowledged that many concerns had already been addressed in the fresh, confidential status report submitted by the CBI but emphasized the importance of considering all the points highlighted in a letter written by the victim’s father.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, heading the bench along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, referred to the father’s September 12 letter, which contained valuable suggestions on potential leads for the investigation.

While not disclosing the contents publicly, the court affirmed the importance of these inputs and directed the CBI to review them.

The CJI-led bench assured the victim’s family, stating,

“Please be assured… the CBI has flagged most of the issues addressed in the letter in its status report.”

Supreme Court Finds CBI Report “Worse and Disturbing”

After reviewing the CBI’s status report, the Supreme Court expressed deep concern but refrained from publicly commenting on the ongoing investigation to avoid compromising the process.

CJI Chandrachud noted-

“We are not making a detailed comment so that it should not put someone who is in doubt to guard themselves… please be assured CBI has flagged all of this in the status report.”

The court revealed that the CBI had responded to concerns regarding the post-mortem procedures, including the doubts raised over the non-filing of required forms before the autopsy. Additionally, the CBI has scrutinized not only the individuals arrested but also those complicit in the case.

The bench further mentioned that critical evidence had been unearthed based on the father’s letter, despite the CBI being handicapped by a five-day delay in commencing its investigation. The court urged the agency to examine all aspects of the case comprehensively.

Financial Irregularities and the Rape-Murder Link

During the hearing, it was alleged that financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College were linked to the rape-murder case. Senior doctors raised concerns that these financial issues were intricately connected to the crime.

The Supreme Court then directed the CBI to file a status report investigating both the rape-murder incident and the alleged financial irregularities at the hospital.

The CBI is currently probing several individuals, including former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, in connection with the crime and the suspected financial mismanagement during his tenure.

Parents Kept Informed About Investigation Progress

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, representing the junior doctors, presented sealed names of individuals who were present at the crime scene without any legitimate reason. Advocate Vrinda Grover also emphasized that the parents of the victim, who accompanied the CBI during parts of the investigation, were confused due to the swirling misinformation and needed clarity.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, concurred, stating that it is essential for the parents to be informed of the investigation’s progress.

“This is the minimum an investigating agency should do for the girl who has been raped and killed,”

-Mehta remarked.

The Supreme Court had previously directed the CBI to file a fresh report in the case after concerns were raised about the forensic report. Today, the CBI submitted a confidential status report detailing the investigation’s progress, which is now under the court’s review.

The next hearing will involve updates on both the criminal investigation and the inquiry into financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College.

The Rape-Murder That shocked The Country

The 31-year=old doctor was raped and murdered at the Kolkata hospital on August 9. Her partially clothed body was found at the hospital’s seminar room the next morning.

The prime suspect, who has been arrested, is Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, who was stationed at the police outpost at the hospital and had access to all departments.

But the investigation had left too many questions unanswered — including the various distorted versions told to the parents one of which was the claim that their daughter has died by suicide.

There were also allegations that the police had forced the cremation despite the parents’ unwillingness and one officer had even offered them money to bury the case.

There was the construction near the site of the crime, mob attack on the protesters at RG Kar hospital on the night of August 15 and the transfer of Sandip Ghosh to a top hospital hours after he submitted his resignation.

The courts questioned why the former principal had not file a complaint for a timely First Information Report, the lapses in postmortem report and the associated papers. The case was handed to the CBI, which first arrested Ghosh in connection with the parallel corruption case they are investigating and then for alleged evidence tampering.

The sequence of events led to spiralling protests that spread across the country, already outraged over the shocking crime.

Key 10 Developments in the Case

• Missing Document at the Last Hearing: During the September 9 hearing, a critical document related to the autopsy was found to be missing. The court had instructed the West Bengal government’s counsel, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, to present the document, which is issued when a body is handed over for autopsy after an inquest. The state requested additional time to locate it.

• Importance of the Missing Document: The CJI emphasized the importance of the document, which contains a column detailing the clothes and articles sent with the body for autopsy. Justice JB Pardiwala noted, “If this document is missing, then something is amiss,” urging the state government to provide a clear explanation.

• Court Orders to Doctors: On September 9, the Supreme Court had directed the protesting doctors to resume their duties by the following day. The court assured them that no action would be taken if they complied with the deadline.

• Protest Continues Despite Court Orders: Junior doctors in Kolkata refused to return to duty, despite the court’s directive. They asserted that the government and the court should not overlook the fact that this is a “people’s movement” and maintained their stance to continue the agitation until their demands were fully met.

• Government-Doctors Negotiations: A series of exchanges via mail took place between the West Bengal government and the junior doctors. The doctors demanded justice for the victim in the rape-murder case and sought the removal of top officials, including the Kolkata Police Commissioner.

• Meeting with the Chief Minister: After multiple canceled meetings over disputes regarding the videography of the proceedings, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee finally met with the protesting doctors yesterday to discuss their demands.

• Government Agrees to Key Demands: Following the meeting, Mamata Banerjee announced late at night that the government had agreed to most of the doctors’ demands. She stated that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal had agreed to resign, and Deputy Commissioner of Police for North Kolkata, Abhishek Gupta, would also be removed. Additionally, two senior officials from the health department would be relieved from their current posts.

• Doctors’ Response to the Victory: The junior doctors hailed the government’s decision as a major victory in their 39-day-long agitation. However, they have reiterated that they will only return to duty once the government acts on its promises.

• CBI’s Evidence Tampering Charge: Between the last Supreme Court hearing and the upcoming one, a significant development has occurred. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed evidence tampering charges against Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College. Additionally, Tala Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Abhijit Mondal, has also been arrested on similar charges.

• Details of the Crime: The victim, a postgraduate trainee doctor, was found dead in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College on the morning of August 9. A medical examination confirmed that she had been raped before her death. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the crime. The incident has sent shockwaves across the country and sparked widespread protests demanding justice.

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