Doctor Rape and Murder: Kolkata Police Given Time till Sunday to Solve or Else Hand-over to CBI
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 12: The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has given the Kolkata police time till August 18 to solve the case of the brutal rape and murder of the 31-year old trainee post-graduate doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital before the case to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Ms Banerjee, who visited the residence of the deceased trainee doctor on Monday afternoon, later told media persons, “If there are more accused… and all are not arrested by Sunday… we will hand over the case to the CBI.”
Throwing a swipe at the central agency which reports to the BJP-led NDA government at the centre, she said, “… we will hand over even though their success rate is low,” she said, referring to cases taken by the CBI, like the theft of Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize, but which had seen “no justice till date.”
The deadline for the state cops – whom Ms Banerjee backed and praised as “the best in the world” – comes amid intense political pressure by the BJP which has raised the demand for handing over the case to the CBI expressing lack of confidence in the state police.
Ms Banerjee has said that she has no issues with the investigation by Central agencies if the family so desires, after talking to her parents and family members. “Will hand over the probe to CBI if the police fail to solve case by Sunday [August 18, 2014],” she added
The body of the woman post-graduate trainee who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the hospital was found on Friday (August 9, 2024) morning, in the seminar hall on the fourth floor of the emergency building of the college, where she was on night duty on Thursday (August 8, 2024). A civic volunteer was arrested in this connection on Saturday (August 10, 2024). Medical workers all over India have already started protests seeking justice for the victim and demanding safety in the work place.
Last week too, the Chief Minister said she has no objection to the CBI taking charge of this case, particularly if that was the demand of protesting medical professionals.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, speaking after Ms Banerjee’s deadline, outlined steps being taken by the cops to solve this crime. “We are certain… in the next four or five days, if there are more culprits, we will be able to arrest them,” he said, “We have started a helpline… doctors can give information by calling (and) can communicate anonymously… if they have suspicions.”
“We are in touch with family members. We will stay in touch and share progress with them… If, even after that, family is not satisfied then whatever madam (Ms Banerjee) has said will happen,” he said. The initial autopsy report said the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts, as also on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who frequented the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the crime.
The Principal of the RG Kar Medical College Dr Sandip Ghosh, who has been accused of victim-blaming, resigned on Monday declaring that he “cannot take the humiliation” and alleged “political statements” against him.
“Students are being provoked to ensure my removal. I want the accused to be punished. I am being defamed. I have not made such remarks,” he told the media this morning. “The girl who died was like my daughter. I am also a parent. As a parent, I am resigning,” he said.
Earlier, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari had targeted Dr Ghosh and demanded his suspension. “His misleading statements and carefree attitude in the aftermath of this tragic incident expose his indifference towards the victim,” Mr Adhikari said in a post on X.
“There is a fair chance that people close to him may have been involved and the Police are working hastily to wrap up the investigation so that they don’t get caught. His influence in the power circle is considerable,” the Leader of the Opposition added.
Meanwhile, doctors from hospitals across India have announced an indefinite strike. Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other cities have said all elective services will be halted till a probe is completed. The protesters are also demanding adequate security for all medical staff.
The police also said the accused Sanjoy Roy was not a hospital employee, but was frequently seen in buildings on the campus. Roy worked as a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police. Civic volunteers are contractual staff recruited to assist cops in various kinds of work, including traffic management and disaster response. Paid around ₹ 12,000 a month, these volunteers do not enjoy the facilities available to regular police personnel.
According to reports, Roy joined Kolkata Police’s disaster management group as a volunteer in 2019 but later shifted to police welfare cell. He then moved to the police outpost at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and had access to all departments. Roy, reports say, was part of a racket in the state-run hospital that charged patients’ relatives for ensuring admission. He would also charge patients’ relatives for finding a bed at nearby nursing homes if they did not get a bed at the government hospital.
Despite not being a regular cop, Roy used his contacts to stay at the police barracks at times. He roamed around in a t-shirt with KP (Kolkata Police) written on it. His bike too had a KP tag. He introduced himself as a Kolkata Police personnel and many other civic volunteers, reports say, thought he was actually a cop.
According to reports in local media, Roy admitted to the crime soon after police started questioning him. The reports say he showed no remorse and said nonchalantly, “Hang me if you want.” His mobile phone was full of pornographic material, it is learnt.
Roy was arrested after a CCTV camera on the hospital premises captured him entering the emergency building around 4 am on Friday; the doctor’s body was found in the same building hours later. Another big clue was a Bluetooth headset found next to the victim’s body. The CCTV footage showed the headset round Roy’s neck when he enters the building. It was missing when he exited. The headset next to the victim’s body also paired with his phone.
According to sources, Roy went home after committing the heinous crime and went to sleep before waking up in the morning and washed his clothes to destroy evidence. Police have, however, found bloodstains on his shoes. The accused has been remanded in police custody till August 23.
The doctor’s horrifying rape and murder on duty have sparked nationwide protests. Questions have been raised on the safety of doctors if everyone enjoyed unabated access to the premises at odd hours too.
City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors. He claimed that the probe was “transparent” and urged people not to spread rumours. Asked if anyone else was involved in the crime as alleged by some quarters, he said, “As of now there is no evidence of that.”
The police were waiting for the final post-mortem examination report as they wanted to match it with their probe findings, the officer said. A team of police officers of the SIT, along with the forensic unit on Sunday, collected samples from the seminar hall of the hospital, a police source said.
The police also reconstructed the crime scene though the arrested accused was not present, the officer said. “The autopsy report has been handed over to the parents of the deceased doctor today by one of our senior officers. We had a fruitful meeting with the students and we think they are satisfied. As per their demand, we have removed one assistant police officer who was posted here,” the police commissioner said.
Mr Goyal said the police are not trying to hide anyone, and the investigation was transparent. The IPS officer said that they would soon start a toll-free number for the people to come up with suggestions or complaints.
The agitating junior doctors, however, said that they would continue their demonstration till they are totally “satisfied” and their demands regarding their safety and security were addressed. Junior doctors, house staff and post-graduate trainees (PGT) at various State-run hospitals, who are also demanding security for them in medical establishments, began a cease work since Friday evening.
“The government must take significant steps to secure justice for the victim. The incident is not only a reflection of systemic failures at the hospital level, but it also points toward broader societal issues that demand immediate and focused attention,” he said.
The Kolkata Police have deployed a huge contingent at the hospital on Sunday. “No one will be allowed inside the hospital premises without proper identification. We will ensure total safety of the health workers in the medical establishment,” the officer said.
The hospital authorities expelled the two security persons contractually employed at the emergency ward for not discharging their duties properly which, in a way, led to the crime against the doctor, another official said.
