On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh filed a defamation case against the father of the R G Kar rape-murder victim’s doctor, accusing him of defaming Ghosh, at the Bankshall Court.
According to Ghosh, there is “intentional slander and propaganda”. He told mediapersons, “I have sympathy with the victim’s family. But that does not mean that you can say things that are not true in someone’s name.”
Recently, the victim’s father had alleged a ‘setting theory’, claiming that officers of the Central Investigation Agency influenced the investigation by taking bribes. He also alleged that Ghosh had visited the CGO complex and “finalised the deal”.
Last week, Ghosh had sent a legal notice via his counsel Ayan Chakraborty to the victim’s father, seeking an apology. His counsel gave four days’ time, after which the defamation case was filed today.
Ghosh stated that he has full respect and sympathy for the father. “I have full sympathy. A heinous incident has happened. The culprit has been punished. We all wanted justice and got it. But he will keep saying whatever comes to his mind, saying whatever he is taught, that cannot happen. If he does not apologise, he will have to come to court and prove what he said.”
He further said he understands the pain of a father who has lost his daughter but added, “He is crossing all limits of lies and drama.”
On August 9, the parents of the deceased doctor called for a Nabanna Abhijan campaign marking the first death anniversary of their daughter.
Speaking to the media, the victim’s father said, “Right now, we do not want to say anything as we have not received any notice. They will not be able to remove us from our target which is to get justice, this is just to harass us.” He added that their accusations were based on evidence: “Let the matter be investigated.”
The parents further alleged that though Ghosh did not come to meet them, over phone he had “offered them money to settle the matter”. The victim’s father said, “I was forced to block Ghosh, before that he used to send me a lot of messages.”
The victim’s mother said, “I do not feel he has any humanity in him. He himself has served time in prison and is now talking about defamation. We have lost everything, we are just alive so that we can fight to get justice for our daughter.”
On August 9, 2024, a doctor on the night shift was found raped and murdered in Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested and in January this year, he was convicted of rape and murder. The case was first investigated by Kolkata Police and then handed over to the CBI after a Calcutta High Court order.
The CBI has moved Calcutta High Court challenging the lower court’s order, while prime accused Sanjoy Roy has also moved the High Court claiming innocence. Both matters will be heard in September.