The parents of the postgraduate trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday have moved the Calcutta High Court, demanding a fresh investigation into the case.
Filed on December 19, 2024, their petition expresses dissatisfaction with the ongoing probe and seeks judicial intervention to ensure justice for their daughter.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh instructed the family’s lawyer to include the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the case, as a respondent. The court scheduled the matter for hearing on December 23, 2024.
The victim’s body was found on August 9, 2024, in the seminar room of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, triggering widespread protests. On December 13, the Sealdah court granted bail to 2 accused—former hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and Tala police station’s officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal—due to the CBI’s failure to file charge sheets within the mandatory 90-day period.
Sandip Ghosh is accused of tampering with evidence, while Abhijit Mondal allegedly delayed filing the FIR after the discovery of the body. Their release has reignited protests in Kolkata, with sharp criticism of the investigation’s progress.
The CBI has, however, filed a charge sheet against the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer associated with the local police. The charge sheet alleges that Roy committed the crime while the victim was resting in the hospital’s seminar room during a break.
In the wake of the tragedy, a doctors’ forum in Bengal has established a scholarship in the victim’s memory, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals.
The case continues to draw intense public attention, with the victim’s family and supporters demanding a comprehensive and impartial investigation to hold all responsible parties accountable.
