After three IPS officers involved in the investigation of the RG Kar rape case were suspended, the period of their suspension has now been extended by another four months.
According to administrative sources, the suspension orders of Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, then DC (Central) Indira Mukherjee, and then DC (North) Abhishek Gupta have been extended while their roles in the investigation are being scrutinized. These three suspended IPS officers are currenty under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
On August 8, 2024, a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata was raped and murdered at the seminar hall of the institution. The Kolkata Police had then arrested a civic volunteer named Sanjay Roy in connection with the incident.
Following a Calcutta High Court order, the CBI took over the investigation. However, the central agency did not arrest anyone else on suspicion of involvement in the case.
Meanwhile, the Sealdah Court convicted Roy and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
However, the victim’s parents remained dissatisfied with the investigation, and claimed that others involved in the incident have remained outside the scope of the probe.
After the change in government in West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reopened the RG Kar case following which then Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, then DC (Central) Indira Mukherjee, and then DC (North) Abhishek Gupta were suspended.
Investigators are examining whether then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or any minister in the TMC government issued directives via text message or phone call, to tamper with the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court ordered the formation of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the CBI’s Joint Director (Eastern Region) to probe the case, with investigators meticulously reexamining the sequence of events from the night of the incident to the cremation.
The CBI has interrogated Nirmal Ghosh, the former Trinamool MLA from Panihati, over his alleged involvement in the case. Investigators have also questioned the crematorium in-charge, Bholanath Patra, for approximately 20 minutes to ascertain exactly what transpired during the cremation.
According to the crematorium authorities, the victim’s body was cremated with the consent of her parents.