Crime scene altered, doctor's family was misled with suicide claim: CBI status report on Kolkata rape-murder

Digital Desk: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday presented its status report to the Supreme Court regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The report revealed that the crime scene had been tampered with and that the victim's family was initially misled into believing her death was a suicide.

During the court hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI before a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, highlighted significant delays in filing the FIR. He noted, "The most shocking fact is that the first FIR was registered at 11:45 pm, after the body had already been cremated. The parents were misled into believing it was a suicide, and only later did the victim's friends at the hospital insist on videography and express suspicions."

Mehta also reported that by the fifth day of the investigation, the crime scene had been completely altered. The CBI noted that a lie-detector test on Sanjoy Roy, a civil volunteer with the Kolkata Police who is a suspect in the case, had yet to be conducted. Additionally, the CBI criticized the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for its mishandling of the case. Despite being aware of proper protocols, hospital authorities dismissed Dr. Sandip Ghosh as principal without effectively securing the crime scene.

The Supreme Court was informed that Dr. Ghosh had not taken proactive steps even after being made aware of the rape-murder. The CBI is also scrutinizing the ongoing renovation work near the crime scene and investigating the delay in the FIR registration.

Following public outrage, Dr. Ghosh resigned from his post as the principal of RG Kar Medical College and was temporarily reassigned to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. However, this transfer was later revoked in response to widespread criticism.

The CBI's investigation has revealed that the trainee doctor was not gang-raped, as previously speculated. Instead, it appears that Roy was the sole perpetrator. Forensic and DNA reports have confirmed Roy’s involvement, refuting initial theories suggesting multiple perpetrators.

The trainee doctor’s semi-naked body was discovered on August 9 in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident has sparked nationwide protests, including in Kolkata, calling for justice and stronger measures to prevent such crimes.