The Supreme Court has issued a stern rebuke to the West Bengal Police regarding their handling of the shocking rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. During a hearing on the case, the Court voiced grave concerns over the dissemination of sensitive images of the victim across media platforms, which Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud described as “extremely concerning.”
The Court scrutinized the actions of the hospital’s Principal, questioning the delays in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and the chaotic scenes that unfolded at the hospital during protests on August 14. The Principal, initially attempting to classify the incident as a suicide, was later reassigned to another hospital, a move that the Court found perplexing.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing West Bengal, attempted to justify the state’s response, but the Court was not convinced, particularly about the timing of the FIR. Although the autopsy was completed by late afternoon, the FIR was only registered close to midnight, raising suspicions about the police’s handling of the case.
The Supreme Court also grilled the state over the vandalism at the hospital during the “Reclaim the Night” protest. The Chief Justice questioned the police’s failure to protect critical facilities and suggested that the police might have been complicit, given the scale of the protest.
Adding to the controversy, a disturbing incident was reported where female doctors at the hospital were threatened by the mob, who warned that they could suffer the same fate as the victim. This prompted the Court to order the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to take over security at the hospital and its hostels.
The Court further urged the West Bengal government to refrain from taking coercive measures against peaceful protesters, stressing the importance of sensitivity in handling the situation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been tasked with providing a status update on its investigation by August 22.
The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was discovered in a seminar room at RG Kar Hospital on August 9, with a civic volunteer arrested shortly thereafter. Dissatisfied with the Kolkata Police’s investigation, the Calcutta High Court had previously transferred the case to the CBI.
The Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognizance of the case, is closely monitoring the developments, with a focus on ensuring justice and safety for medical professionals across the state.
