Kolkata doctor murder: CBI to probe case as Calcutta High Court flags serious lapses by hospital admin

PTC Web Desk: In a significant development, the Calcutta High Court has mandated that the investigation into the sexual assault and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This decision comes in response to severe lapses in the handling of the case by the hospital administration and the perceived inadequacy of the state police investigation.

The Calcutta High Court’s ruling follows the disturbing discovery of the doctor’s body in the hospital's seminar hall on Friday morning. The victim was found with her clothes in disarray and multiple injuries, raising concerns about the handling and response from the hospital administration. The victim's family had expressed a desire for an independent investigation to ensure the integrity of the evidence, citing fears of potential tampering.

The Calcutta High Court came down heavily on Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, for his lack of proactive measures in addressing the incident. The court expressed dismay that Dr Ghosh had not taken prompt action and noted that he was swiftly assigned a new role as the Principal of Calcutta National Medical College just hours after resigning from RG Kar Medical College. This rapid appointment was met with protests from the medical community, who questioned the urgency and appropriateness of the new role given the circumstances.

The court sharply condemned the state government's decision to reassign Dr Ghosh to another high-profile position. It remarked that the resignation should have been accompanied by a pause in administrative responsibilities, rather than an immediate transfer to another significant role. The court questioned the need for such haste and suggested that the appropriate action would have been to relieve Dr Ghosh of all responsibilities until a thorough review was conducted.

In its verdict, the high court highlighted the hospital administration’s lack of support for the victim and her family. The court described the situation as “peculiar” and emphasised the urgent need to prevent any further loss of evidence, which could be compromised if the investigation continued under the current conditions. The high court's decision to transfer the case to the CBI was based on concerns about the effectiveness of the state police investigation, which, despite being in progress for five days, had not yielded significant results.

The court also noted that under normal circumstances, it would have allowed more time for the state police to complete their investigation. However, given the lack of progress and the potential risk of evidence destruction, it deemed the transfer to the CBI as necessary for ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had set a deadline for the Kolkata Police to complete their probe by Sunday, with the stipulation that if the investigation was not satisfactorily concluded by then, the state government would recommend a CBI inquiry based on the victim's family’s wishes.