High Court Criticizes Handling of Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: ‘RG Kar Principal Should Have Been First to Be Questioned’

High Court Criticizes Handling of Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: ‘RG Kar Principal Should Have Been First to Be Questioned’

The Calcutta High Court has come down heavily on the handling of the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court inquired on Tuesday about the reason why the principal of the college, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, was not the first person to be questioned in connection with the crime committed on the college campus.

While hearing multiple Public Interest Litigation petitions filed in the case, the bench pressed the state government’s counsel on the swiftness of Dr Ghosh’s reappointment as principal in another college within hours of his resignation. The court had asked, “Why are you protecting him? Record his statement. Let him tell whatever he knows.”

The high court termed it as a “gruesome crime” and said that it empathizes with the medical community, stating that the incident has caused a lot of distress to the doctors.”We cannot gag the press…what assurance are you giving to the doctors? They are hurt. The incident is so gruesome. They are justified in expressing their emotions,” the court told Bar and Bench.

Dr. Ghosh tendered in his resignation on Monday, taking moral responsibility for the death of the trainee doctor; however, his prompt reshuffle to CNMC College ran Helter-skelter and raised doubts over the sanctity of the ongoing probe.

The post-mortem report showed horrific injuries on the body of the victim, including deep wounds on the private parts, suggestive of “genital torture.” The report also mentioned blood oozing out from her eyes, mouth, and private areas, which paints another grim picture of the violence she went through.

The police have taken into custody Sanjoy Roy as the prime suspect in the case. In a statement, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, “Reinstatement of Dr. Ghosh at this time by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal state government is a serious matter.”

Also Read: RG Kar Medical College Principal Resigns Amid Backlash Over Doctor’s Rape and Murder, Hospital Services Disrupted

“The way protection to the criminals has been given over the Kolkata incident is more tragic than the incident itself,” Trivedi said. He criticized the motives of the state government and called for the handover of the investigation to the CBI for its transparent inquiry into the matter. He also accused the TMC government of deliberately delaying the dispensation of justice and providing cover for criminal elements in the state.