Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Thursday observed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can re-interrogate RG Kar rape-and-murder convict Sanjay Roy, in connection with a case filed by the victim's parents flagging questions on the probe — the inquiry which stated the case to be rape and not gang rape.
The division bench of justices Rajasekhar Mantha and Rai Chattopadhyay heard the RG Kar case, which was reassigned to them by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul after the division bench of Justice Debangsu Basak recused itself from hearing it.
The victim's parents flagged multiple issues with the probe and in their supplementary affidavit and also submitted an audio clipping, which, according to their lawyer senior advocate Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee, had evidence under the ‘last seen together theory'. It was submitted that the central agency did not pay attention to this audio evidence along with forensic evidence, which the parents' counsel claims proves gang rape.
Saying "Sanjay Roy seems to know a lot", Justice Mantha observed that the CBI could re-interrogate him. "CBI can use modern methods and technology available in this case," the bench observed.
It was further directed that the evidence produced by the parents be given to the CBI, which can investigate this and submit a report before the division bench. The matter will be next heard on May 12.
On the victim's parents' plea that they wanted to revisit the scene of crime, the bench observed that if CBI, to whom the case was transferred, had no objection, why should the state object, especially since they were not a party in the case.
The judge cited the death of an IIT-Kharagpur student where the forensic doctors later provided evidence of murder. "There is also room for thorough forensic examination in this case," the bench remarked.
The incident took place on Aug 9, 2024, when the body of a young doctor was found in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Initially, Kolkata Police probed the incident and arrested Roy. The case was transferred to CBI by the Calcutta High Court, which was also directed to look into financial irregularities allegations linked to the case.
Later, CBI filed a charge sheet before the Sealdah court naming Roy as the sole accused in the case. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court.
The agency, nearly a year back, informed the court that they were probing whether there was any attempt to cover up the incident. The Sealdah court ordered further probe into the larger conspiracy case. But the victim's parents questioned the CBI probe, stating that it did not contain significant developments.