Kolkata doctor murder: CBI arrests former RG Kar principal and police officer for FIR delay, missing evidence in investigation

PTC News Desk: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made two significant arrests on Saturday in connection with the high-profile rape and murder case of a trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the institution, and Abhijit Mondal, Station House Officer (SHO) of Tala Police Station, were taken into custody for their roles in delaying the filing of the First Information Report (FIR) and the disappearance of crucial evidence related to the case.

This case revolves around the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor whose body was found on August 9 in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The autopsy report revealed she had been brutally raped before being murdered, sending shockwaves throughout the state.

Following the discovery, Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, who confessed to the crime. However, the investigation has since been marred by procedural delays and allegations of police misconduct.

The CBI's arrest of Dr. Ghosh and SHO Abhijit Mondal highlights concerns of deliberate negligence and attempts to tamper with the investigation. The delay in filing the FIR and the mishandling of critical evidence have cast suspicion on law enforcement officials. This is not Dr. Ghosh's first run-in with the law; he was previously arrested by the CBI in a separate case involving financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and underwent a polygraph test as part of that investigation.

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The political fallout from the arrests has been swift. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has publicly called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the immediate suspension of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. Adhikari, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), accused the police of orchestrating procedural lapses to derail the investigation. He claimed that the involvement of police officials in tampering with evidence was a deliberate attempt to create loopholes and protect those responsible.

“The arrest of Abhijit Mondal, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tala Police Station, has established that the police were directly involved in tampering with evidence and acted to derail the investigation into the rape and murder of the RG Kar postgraduate trainee doctor,” Adhikari wrote on X.

He further demanded that Commissioner Vineet Goyal be suspended immediately and criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also serves as the state's Home Minister, for failing to ensure justice. “Home Minister Mamata Banerjee must resign as she no longer has the moral authority to continue in her role,” he added.

The investigation is now under intense scrutiny. The Calcutta High Court had previously given the CBI a three-week deadline to submit a progress report on the ongoing investigation into the case. The CBI is expected to present its findings before the court on September 17.

This case has attracted widespread attention, not only because of the brutality of the crime but also due to the alleged involvement of police officials in obstructing justice. As the investigation unfolds, many are closely watching the role of Kolkata Police and the state government's response.

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