New twist in Kolkata doctor murder case, parents allege police bribery attempt
PTC News Desk: The family of the 31-year-old trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month, has come forward with shocking new allegations. On Wednesday, the victim's parents accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the case by cremating their daughter’s body hastily, without allowing them proper access to it. Furthermore, the victim’s father claimed that police officers tried to bribe them in an effort to silence the family.
“The police, from the outset, made several attempts to hush up the case. We were denied the opportunity to see our daughter’s body and were kept waiting at the police station while the body was being taken for post-mortem examinations. When the body was finally handed over to us, a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately rejected,” said the victim's father, as quoted by PTI.
The grieving parents participated in a protest held at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday night, alongside a group of junior doctors, demanding justice for their daughter. The family and the protesters emphasised the need for accountability and transparency in the investigation.
The horrific incident occurred on August 9, when the body of the trainee doctor was discovered in a semi-naked state inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Following the discovery, police immediately launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of the prime suspect, Sanjay Roy.
Roy was apprehended after CCTV footage placed him near the crime scene at the time of the incident. His Bluetooth headphones were also found near the victim's body, strengthening the evidence against him.
The investigation revealed that the doctor had suffered severe physical trauma before her death. Roy allegedly assaulted and raped the victim before killing her through throttling and smothering. The brutality of the crime sparked outrage and protests across Kolkata and beyond.
In response to the widespread public demand for justice and growing concerns over the handling of the case, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within a week of the crime.
The case has ignited massive protests, with people from all walks of life, including doctors, expressing their anger and demanding justice. Demonstrations have erupted across the country, and in Kolkata, junior doctors have been at the forefront of the movement.
On Tuesday, a group of junior doctors took a bold step by presenting a handmade artificial spine to Kolkata’s Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyal. The symbolic gesture was a direct challenge to the police, accusing them of failing to show the necessary courage and backbone in handling the case. The doctors even called for Goyal’s resignation, citing serious lapses in the investigation.
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The protests among junior doctors have continued, severely affecting the health services in several state-run hospitals in West Bengal. The protests on Wednesday resulted in disruptions to the functioning of medical facilities, leaving services crippled in many parts of the state.
Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of women from across West Bengal took to the streets at midnight as part of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign. This initiative saw women demanding justice for the trainee doctor and a safer environment for women.
Kolkata witnessed a particularly moving act of solidarity at 9 PM when residents turned off their lights for an hour. Carrying candles, people took to the streets to mourn the victim and express their support for her family and for all women who have suffered similar fates.
As public pressure mounts, the demand for swift and uncompromised justice for the victim remains a unifying cry. The case has drawn national attention and continues to highlight concerns over women’s safety and the accountability of law enforcement in India.
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- With inputs from agencies
