The Calcutta High Court has expressed displeasure over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report filed in the RG Kar rape case.
“You (CBI) are saying that you have recorded the mother’s statement. Where is it?” Justice Shampa Sarkar questioned to which the probe official said, “We have documented her statement.”
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh remarked that the CBI is displaying a lackadaisical attitude in the case.
“Either the State should admit that it has failed to deliver justice, or it should say that no one is responsible for the destruction of evidence. One year and seven months have passed since the charge sheet was filed.” Justice Tirthankar Ghosh remarked.
“When will the investigation be over?” Justice Tirthankar Ghosh asked CBI, expressing displeasure over the pace of the investigation.
Justice Ghosh warned that if the probe continues in such a manner “we will take this investigation away from the CBI. We will also record in our order that CBI officials consider themselves above the High Court, that they have failed to understand the Court’s directions, and that they have failed to conduct an appropriate investigation.”
“The intent of our earlier order was that the case should be taken away from the CBI’s previous investigating officers and handed over to the newly constituted SIT. Are you unable to understand that? Are you being overly sympathetic toward your colleagues?” Justice Shampa Sarkar remarked.
The victim’s family have submitted that if the CBI is not able to handle the case it should be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
However Justice Sharma said, “We still have confidence in the CBI officials and hope that they will conduct a proper investigation.”
The Court directed that no previous investigating officer would be part of the newly formed SIT and granted additional time for the next phase of the investigation.
The next hearing on this case is scheduled for August 6.