In a significant development in the ongoing investigation of the trainee doctor’s rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a newly surfaced photograph has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the crime scene. The image shows approximately 12-13 individuals inside the room where the victim’s body was found, sparking allegations that the crime scene may have been compromised.
The Kolkata police, who are facing increasing scrutiny over their handling of the case, have stated that those present in the room were forensic team members and authorized personnel, despite allegations to the contrary. The photograph, obtained by Times Now, depicts several people, some wearing masks and white coats, alongside a police officer, crowding the area around the victim’s remains.
This revelation comes amid growing public outrage and daily protests across West Bengal. Both the Supreme Court of India and the Calcutta High Court have criticized the Kolkata police for lapses in their investigation.
Details of the Case
The incident occurred on August 8, when the 31-year-old female trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where she was on night duty. Her semi-naked body was discovered the following morning. The Kolkata police, using CCTV footage and Bluetooth tracking, arrested the accused, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer known to frequent the hospital.
Amid widespread protests by doctors, medical students, and various medical associations across the country, the investigation was eventually transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Calcutta High Court.
Protests and Vandalism at RG Kar College
The case has sparked a massive outcry within the medical community, with numerous hospitals and associations, including the Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs), Indian Medical Association, and Delhi AIIMS, threatening to suspend medical services if swift action is not taken against the accused. In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, women, including medical students and doctors, organized midnight protests under the banner ‘Reclaim The Night.’
However, tensions escalated further in Kolkata when miscreants reportedly assaulted protesters and vandalized the emergency ward of RG Kar Hospital, causing extensive damage to the medical room and medicine distribution facilities. This incident has only intensified the ongoing agitation among doctors, who are demanding justice for their deceased colleague and calling for legal protections for medical professionals.
Supreme Court and CBI Involvement
The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the case and directed the CBI to submit a status report. During the latest hearing, the CBI informed the court that the crime scene had already been altered by the time they took over the investigation, pointing to lapses by the Kolkata police.
The court also questioned the reappointment of ex-Principal Sandip Ghosh of RG Kar College, who was previously sent on leave by the Calcutta High Court, and demanded to know why he had not been questioned earlier.
The victim’s family, initially informed that she was unwell and later that she had died by suicide, was devastated to learn from the autopsy that she had been raped and murdered by strangulation. The CBI has since conducted polygraph tests on the main accused, Sanjay Roy, ex-Principal Sandip Ghosh, a police officer close to Roy, Anoop Dutta, and several students who were with the deceased doctor on the day of the crime.
The investigation continues as the CBI works to unravel the full circumstances surrounding this tragic case.