Suvendu orders fresh probe into 2024 RG Kar case
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday ordered a fresh investigation into the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case following requests made by the victim's parents to start fresh investigations.
Referring to the order for fresh investigation, the Chief Minister said that "Ratna Debnath (the mother of the victim) had written to me, requesting a fresh investigation. We held extensive discussions with the chief secretary and a team of experts following that, I am announcing a fresh investigation under the Special Commission Act, 1952."
The Chief Minister also directed a separate investigation into the role of some local Trinamool Congress politicians, including an MLA, into the alleged lapses during the cremation of the victim, which was reportedly done bypassing other dead bodies that were already in the queue.
"I have not forgotten … I am doing what needs to be done and will continue to do so … whenever I recall this day it fills my heart with pain and tears flow down the eyes," Adhikari, who had earlier suspended the then Kolkata Commissioner of Police Vineet Goyal and two other senior IPS officers for dereliction of duty, said.
The parents of the victim had earlier alleged that the victim's body, which was initially third in the queue for cremation at the Natagarh Kadamtala crematorium, was suddenly moved to the first position and her cremation was completed in undue haste. This, apart from the fact that the cremation charges were also not paid by the family members of the victim.
The three local politicians who were in question and had repeatedly been named were Nirmal Ghosh, Somnath Dey and Sanjib Mukherjee, the Chief Minister said.
Debnath, who was presently a BJP MLA, expressed satisfaction at the Chief Minister's initiative, saying, "My daughter will continue to be there with me, l inside my heart and till my alive … my only goal is to get her justice, and I am thankful that the Chief Minister has ordered a fresh investigation." The family had earlier expressed displeasure with the way CBI conducted the investigation.
The victim's father too expressed satisfaction, saying, "The Chief Minister has been doing whatever is in his hands… he suspended three senior IPS officers on duty then … he took action on others too … we are satisfied; the rest is with the judiciary."
Incidentally, all the State hospitals on Sunday observed a two-minute silence in memory of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case that took place exactly two years ago. A postgraduate lady doctor was raped and murdered while on duty inside the hospital premises on August 9, hitting international headlines and leading to nationwide protests.
The silence was observed from 11:00 am to 11:02 am following a directive issued by the state government. Lamps were also lit in memory of the victim, with doctors, nurses, and all medical staff taking part, along with State Health Minister Dr Sharadwath Mukherjee. Apart from this, a long march was also organised in Kolkata on the part of the citizens' forum seeking justice for the victim.
The victim was allegedly raped and murdered in the night intervening August 8 and 9 of 2024, and her body was hastily disposed of following a quick autopsy conducted in the same hospital and post sundown, violating standard operating procedures.
One person, Sanjay Rai, a civic volunteer, was subsequently arrested by the Kolkata Police post which the case was transferred to the CBI following a Calcutta High Court order. In subsequent developments, the victim's family complained that the CBI failed to discharge its duties diligently and demanded fresh investigations.
