The parents of the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder victim say they are planning to appeal in the Calcutta High Court seeking further investigation into the case and also a retrial if the court deems it fit.
On January 29, the victims’ family had withdrawn a petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking a fresh investigation into the incident. During the hearing, the top court had raised concerns about the existing legal proceedings, noting that a conviction order against the accused, Sanjoy Roy, had already been passed in the case. The bench asked their lawyer whether it should proceed with the petition or wait for the outcome of a similar plea previously filed by the parents before a Calcutta High Court bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh.
In the Supreme Court, the parents had previously sought a re-investigation, contending that more people were involved in the case. The court, however, allowed the parents to “amend it” since the trial has ended with a conviction, and file a fresh petition at the High Court.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Monday, the victim’s father said, “We have spoken to one of our legal counsels who is an expert in trial matters. We want further investigation in the case and in the process, if the court feels that a retrial is required, then we will welcome that…Nothing is left in our life other than fighting for justice for our daughter.”
The father expressed apprehension that “influential people” could be involved in “preventing the truth from coming out”. The parents have allegedly not seen the police reports or been informed about “key evidence” like marks found on the victim’s body.
Tarit Ojha, one of the counsels for the family, told The Indian Express on Monday, “The parents met with me yesterday regarding the next course of action… Once there is further investigation, a supplementary chargesheet has to be submitted. Then we will go for a retrial. In the High Court, we will ask for further investigation under court supervision. Previously, they (the CBI) investigated the matter independently.”
“When the CBI submitted the chargesheet they said since former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and the Tala police station officer incharge (OC) Biswajit Mondol tried to hush up the case and destroyed evidence, a supplementary chargesheet will be submitted. Now that the trial is over, one person has been convicted but no supplementary chargesheet has been filed so far,” said Ojha.
According to Ojha, the counsels had submitted a 36-point argument among other points in the trial court for a “proper investigation” which the CBI “vehemently opposed”.