Kolkata Rape-Murder Case : SC Criticizes Missing Key Document, Questions Investigation

The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing today for the high-profile rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata. The case, which has garnered significant attention, will be reviewed by a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, alongside Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. This hearing follows the court’s suo moto cognizance of the matter on August 22.

In a global show of solidarity, members of the Indian diaspora organized protests in 130 cities across 25 countries on Sunday, demanding justice for the victim. Domestically, thousands took to the streets of Kolkata at midnight to mark one month since the incident, which occurred on August 9. Protestors, participating in the third ‘Reclaim the Night’ march, formed human chains and voiced their frustration, criticizing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her handling of the case.

Latest Developments:

– Government Criticism: The West Bengal government, led by Mamata Banerjee, is under fire for its alleged mishandling of the case. Opposition parties and activists have called for Banerjee’s resignation, with accusations that the state has been unresponsive and ineffective.

– Allegations of Cover-Up: The victim’s parents have claimed that the Kolkata Police offered them bribes to cover up details related to the ‘hurried’ cremation of their daughter. This has intensified scrutiny of the investigation and the actions of local authorities.

– Resignation and Accusations: Jawhar Sircar, a leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), resigned from his position as a Rajya Sabha MP, citing a lack of adequate action by the party regarding the case. The TMC has also been accused by the BJP of tampering with the crime scene, alongside allegations of mishandling by the Kolkata Police.

– CBI Investigation: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is leading the probe and is expected to present its report to the Calcutta High Court on September 17. The CBI has identified Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, as the main suspect, and has ruled out the possibility of a gang-rape.

– Medical Report and Legal Questions: In the latest court proceedings, the Solicitor General presented a medical report confirming that the victim’s death was homicidal, with evidence of forceful penetration and sexual abuse. The CBI plans to send the report to AIIMS for further testing.

Senior counsel has raised questions about procedural irregularities, including the timing of the FIR and discrepancies in the post-mortem report. They have also questioned the conduct of the videography related to the case and raised concerns about potential bias from the involved medical professionals.

The case continues to unfold as the search for justice intensifies, with significant legal and political ramifications.