An audio clip, purportedly capturing the initial conversations between the parents of a trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, has surfaced on social media. The recording allegedly contains three phone calls between the victim’s parents and a hospital staff member, sparking renewed controversy over the handling of the case.
The authenticity of the audio clip could not be independently verified, but its content aligns with previous statements made by the victim’s parents. They had earlier recounted receiving initial information from a woman claiming to be an assistant superintendent of the hospital, though she did not reveal her name.
On August 14, Dr. Arunava Dutta Chowdhury, who was in charge of the chest department where the crime allegedly took place, confirmed that the calls were made by Sucharita Sarkar, a non-medical assistant superintendent. Sarkar has been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) but has not publicly addressed the media since the incident.
In the first recorded conversation, the caller informed the victim’s father, “Your daughter is very sick and has been admitted to the hospital. Can you come fast?” When asked for more details, the woman responded, “She is unwell. The doctors can say what has happened to her. We found your number and that’s why we are calling to inform you.”
The second conversation mirrored the first, with the caller stating, “She is extremely unwell and has been admitted to the emergency department. I cannot say what has happened to her. Only the doctors can tell you. Can you come immediately?” When pressed for her identity, the woman reiterated, “I am assistant superintendent. I am not a doctor.”
The third call took a grim turn, with the woman stating, “She has probably committed suicide. Maybe she is dead. The police are here, and we all are here. Come as fast as you can.” The victim’s father, who reportedly had his phone on speaker, allowed his wife to hear the conversation as well.
The post-mortem report indicated that the victim died between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on August 9. However, hospital officials claimed the body was discovered around 9 a.m. in the seminar hall of the chest department. The victim’s father reported receiving the first call from the hospital at 10:53 a.m. and two subsequent calls before arriving at the hospital with his wife. The exact times of the second and third calls were not disclosed.
The victim’s parents, who reside in North 24 Parganas district, have avoided media contact since the audio clips surfaced. They previously accused both Kolkata police and hospital authorities of withholding information and failing to conduct a proper investigation.
Sanjay Roy, a 31-year-old civic volunteer working for Kolkata police, was arrested on August 10 as the prime suspect in the case. The Kolkata police have declined to comment on the audio clips, citing the ongoing CBI investigation, which began on August 14 following a Calcutta High Court order. The case was transferred to the federal agency after the victim’s parents filed a petition. The CBI has not yet made any additional arrests.
Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, including Soumyadip Roy, have expressed their concerns, claiming that hospital authorities attempted to cover up the crime. “We had been saying from the very beginning that hospital authorities tried to cover up the crime. This should be investigated thoroughly,” Roy said.
As the investigation continues, the newly surfaced audio clip has intensified scrutiny over the hospital’s response and the actions of local authorities in this tragic case.
