The probe into the chilling rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital must be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Calcutta High Court ruled today.
The court noted serious lapses in the hospital administration’s response after the doctor was found dead in its seminar hall on Friday morning, her clothes in disarray and injuries all over her body. The victim’s parents, the court said, want an investigation by an independent body to ensure that evidence is not tampered with.
The court today came down heavily on Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the state-run college, saying it was “disheartening” that he was not “proactive”. The court also flagged that the former Principal was given the same role in another college hours after he resigned and said he must be immediately relieved of duties and sent on leave.
Dr Ghosh stepped down yesterday, saying that he cannot take the humiliation on social media in the wake of the doctor’s rape-murder. Hours later, he was given a new role as the Principal of Calcutta National Medical College. This sparked a wave of protest, as protesting doctors questioned the rush behind his new appointment.
Pulling up the state government for giving a new role to Dr Ghosh shortly after his resignation, the court said, “The appropriate authority should have borne in mind the circumstances under which the resignation was given. Therefore, even that resignation was not accepted, the least that can be expected from the department is to release the Principal from the administrative responsibility and not assign him any other duty of equal responsibility. This professor has been made Principal of another medical college. It is not clear as to what was the urgency in doing so.”
The court also said that Dr Ghosh is the first person whose statement must have been recorded by investigators. “We don’t doubt his professional skills but once he is appointed principal he is a an administrator. You should have recorded his statement, why protect him? There is something amiss.”
The hospital administration, the court noted, was not with the victim or the family of the victim. “The case on hand is a peculiar case. There should be no further loss of time. There may be possibility of evidence being tampered,” the court said.
The high court also noted that it would have given more time to state police under “normal circumstances”. “Even after five days there have been no significant conclusions which should have happened by now. Therefore, we are justified that there is every possibility that evidence will be destroyed. We deem it appropriate that the case must be transferred to CBI with immediate effect,” the court said.
Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said Kolkata Police must complete their probe by Sunday, failing which the state government would recommend a CBI probe if the victims’ parents want. Opposition parties, led by the BJP, had demanded a central agency probe, warning against tampering of proof if state police investigated the case that has sent shockwaves through the nation.
