CBI and Central Forensic Team Reach Presidency Jail for Sanjay’s Polygraph Test
The key suspect in the Kolkata murder case, Sanjay Roy, is undergoing a polygraph test on Sunday (August 25). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), along with a forensic team from Delhi, is conducting the lie detector test at Kolkata’s Presidency Jail, where Sanjay is currently detained.
Sanjay’s polygraph test was originally scheduled for Saturday (August 24), but it was postponed due to technical issues. On the same day, former RG Kar Medical College principal, along with four other doctors and a volunteer, were subjected to polygraph tests at the CBI office.
In a parallel investigation, CBI conducted raids at 15 locations linked to former principal Sandeep Ghosh and his associates. The CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch arrived at Ghosh’s residence in Kolkata on Sunday morning (August 25). After a 75-minute wait outside, the team entered the premises.
Visuals of the Raids
The CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch was seen entering the residence of former principal Sandeep Ghosh in Kolkata for a thorough search.
The investigation also extended to the administrative block of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the CBI team searched the premises.
Besides Ghosh, CBI teams also raided the homes of Dr. Debashis Som, a forensic medicine professor at the college, former superintendent Sanjay Vashistha, and a medical supplier from Howrah, Biplab Singh. The raids come after former superintendent Akhtar Ali filed a corruption complaint against the college three days ago.
An FIR was registered against Sandeep Ghosh by the CBI on Saturday (August 24). The charges involve financial irregularities during his tenure at the medical college. Although the Bengal government had initially assigned the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to take over the case.
CBI Aims to Verify Ghosh’s Statements
CBI officials stated that the polygraph tests aim to cross-check Ghosh’s statements regarding the events of August 8 and 9. A trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College was found dead on August 9, and the investigation centers around the circumstances leading to this incident.
Ghosh’s legal team claimed that obtaining the former principal’s consent for the polygraph test was straightforward, given his medical background and understanding of the process. As a result, Ghosh readily agreed to undergo the test.
The CBI also questioned over 15 individuals, including 10 police officers and civic volunteers, in connection with the trainee doctor’s murder case on Saturday (August 24).
Sanjay Requests Rest After Intensive Interrogation
Sanjay Roy, the main accused, is currently held in the VIP ward of the Presidency Correctional Home, where other high-profile inmates, including former West Bengal ministers Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick, are also detained. However, Sanjay is kept in a separate area.
According to reports, Sanjay has requested permission from the jail authorities to rest, stating that he is exhausted from continuous interrogations by the Kolkata Police and CBI over the past two weeks. In the early days of his detention, he was questioned late into the night, leading to his current state of fatigue.
CBI Awaits Forensic Reports
The Kolkata Police has seized 53 items related to the murder case, including Sanjay Roy’s bike, clothing, undergarments, and sandals that he was reportedly wearing during the crime. These items have been handed over to the CBI, which is now awaiting forensic reports expected to arrive in the coming days.
Victim’s Family Alleges Police Misled Them
The victim’s family expressed their trust in the CBI investigation on Friday (August 23) but accused the police of misleading them during the initial stages. They also suggested that the state administration might be trying to protect someone involved in the crime, asserting that such a serious crime could not have been committed by just one person.
In an interview, the victim’s father mentioned that while they have faith in the CBI, the investigation has yet to yield results. He emphasized the need for swift action as each passing day feels like a year to them. The family is also considering participating in the ongoing protests by doctors at RG Kar Hospital and may approach the Supreme Court regarding the irregularities at the hospital if necessary.
The victim’s mother criticized the Kolkata Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyal, for not conducting a thorough investigation, claiming that he was too hasty. She expressed hope that the ongoing racket at the medical college would be uncovered and appropriate action taken.
CBI Investigates Unsecured Seminar Hall
The CBI has revealed that the latch on the door of the seminar hall where the trainee doctor’s body was found had been broken for several days, which was common knowledge. This prevented the doctor from locking the door when she entered between 2 and 3 AM. A duty doctor reportedly saw her sleeping in the hall.
The CBI is now probing how the crime was committed without any interference and whether someone was monitoring the hall from outside. The agency is also investigating why no one heard any screams or noises during the crime.
Political Reactions and Protests
BJP workers staged a protest on August 23, blocking the entrance to Nandigram Police Station in West Bengal’s East Medinipur district. Protests were also held at police stations in Chinsurah, Siuri, Midnapore, and Bankura. Meanwhile, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury advised Kapil Sibal to step down from the case, urging him not to defend the accused as he is a former elected representative and currently a Rajya Sabha MP. Chowdhury requested that Sibal recuse himself from the case in light of these considerations.