The parents of the R G Kar rape and murder victim have moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking a fresh investigation into the murder of their daughter.
In court, their counsel stated that the parents do not have confidence in the current investigation, which is being led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They appealed to the court to order a fresh investigation “soon” as all the evidence “has disappeared in the name of this investigation”, and that many aspects of the case are “not being investigated.”
A single bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh asked the CBI to submit a report and all relevant documents by December 24. However, the court stated that the ongoing trial cannot be stopped at this juncture.
The court further observed that the investigation is going on under the Supreme Court’s monitoring but if the family is dissatisfied with any aspect, the High Court can also monitor the case.
On Monday, the court will decide whether they can call for a report from the investigating agency every 15 days regarding the progress of the case.
The CBI counsel submitted in court that till date, eight status reports regarding the progress of the case have been submitted. The court has asked the CBI counsel to take further instructions from the agency regarding what they will do next.
The day-to-day trial has already commenced in the case in a lower court and statements are already being recorded.
Sandip Ghosh, former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, and Abhijit Mondol, then officer-in-charge of Tala police station, were granted bail in the case by a court in Kolkata on December 14 after the CBI failed to submit a charge sheet within 90 days.
On September 14, the CBI had arrested them for allegedly tampering with evidence in the case and allegedly trying to “hush up” the incident.
Three days after a civic volunteer working for Kolkata Police, Sanjay Roy, was arrested on suspicion of committing the August 9 crime, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI, stating that the Kolkata Police’s investigation did not inspire confidence.
Junior doctors in West Bengal initiated a cease work strike for 42 days demanding a thorough probe of the incident and security at hospitals. The trial in the rape and murder case of a doctor commenced in a Kolkata court on November 11, three months after the body was found inside the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The proceedings were held on-camera at the court of additional district and sessions judge Anirban Das.