Nearly two months after the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, new allegations have surfaced. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has accused a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader of pressuring the forensic team to rush the autopsy process on the day of the incident.
Claims of Autopsy Interference by TMC Leader
On Monday, Adhikari shared a video featuring a forensic medicine expert who claimed that a former councillor, identifying himself as a distant relative of the deceased, urged the forensic team to expedite the postmortem and complete it the same day. This forensic expert, who was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its ongoing investigation, made the revelation while leaving the CGO Complex on Sunday.
Forensic Doctor Apurba Biswas, who was a member of the team which conducted the post-mortem on the 31-year-old Junior Lady Doctor; raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College, was summoned by the CBI.
While leaving after the questioning, he made a explosive revelation to the… pic.twitter.com/XCrWYQ2gbV— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) September 23, 2024
Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal, identified the person involved as Sanjib Mukherjee, a former CPIM councillor of Panihati Municipality who later joined TMC. “The individual is Sanjib Mukherjee, now a close associate of Panihati TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh,” Adhikari wrote in a social media post.
Concerns Over the Hasty Cremation
Adhikari raised concerns over the rushed cremation of the victim. He alleged that Mukherjee, despite not being a family member, signed the cremation certificate. “Everyone knows the victim was cremated in haste. The police were overseeing the process at the crematorium, and there was an unusual urgency to dispose of the body,” he claimed.
Furthermore, Adhikari pointed out the presence of another signatory on the cremation certificate, Somenath Dey, who shares the same name as a former TMC councillor. Adhikari questioned if it was the same individual involved in the cremation process.
The trainee doctor’s father had also voiced his concerns, stating that his daughter’s body was cremated without proper delay. The CBI has alleged that Abhijit Mondol, the former officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station, was complicit in rushing the cremation, despite the family’s request for a second autopsy.
Allegations Against TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh
Adhikari also alleged that Panihati MLA Nirmal Ghosh was involved in hastening the cremation process, reportedly acting “on the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.” Ghosh was interrogated by the CBI in connection with the case on Monday.
A CBI officer stated that Ghosh played a significant role in organizing the quick final rites of the deceased doctor. Ghosh appeared at the CBI’s CGO Complex office in Salt Lake at 10:30 am on Monday, where he was questioned regarding his involvement in the incident at RG Kar hospital.
Case Background: Nationwide Outrage
The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found with severe injuries in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, sparking nationwide outrage. The incident led to protests and a cease-work movement by junior doctors across the country. So far, three individuals, including the former principal of the hospital, have been arrested in connection with the case. The CBI continues its investigation into the matter.
