Recently, false claims have been circulating on social media, alleging that Subhadip Singha Mahapatra, an intern at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is the son of TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra and was involved in the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor. These baseless rumors have gone viral, leading to confusion and misinformation.
Fact-Checking the Claims
A comprehensive investigation into these claims reveals that they are entirely false. Subhadip Singha Mahapatra is not related to TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra. Instead, Subhadip’s father, Prabir Singh Mahapatra, is a primary school teacher, and their family has no connections with the MLA or his family.
According to a Times of India report dated August 17, 2024, a resident of Bankura lodged a complaint stating that his son, Subhadip, was wrongly identified on social media as the son of Minister Soumen Mahapatra. The report further clarified that Subhadip was at the hospital throughout the incident and had been questioned by the police. The Kolkata Police have taken action against social media profiles spreading these false accusations and have issued notices to 60 online users involved in the spread of misinformation.
Further corroborating this, a News18 report dated August 14, 2024, quotes TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra denying the allegations against his son. He clarified that his son’s name is Bodhisattva Mahapatra, who is currently employed as a Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) at a Block Health Centre, not RG Kar Medical College. Soumen also stated that his family is cooperating fully with the investigation.
Moreover, a Facebook post by the West Bengal Police, dated August 16, 2024, dismisses these viral claims. The post, translated from Bangla, includes a video statement from Subhadip’s father, Prabir, who confirmed that his son was at the hospital during the incident and that they do not know the Mahapatra family personally. Prabir also filed an FIR at Tala Police Station in Kolkata regarding the spread of false information.
A senior officer quoted in the Times of India report mentioned that the police have taken FIRs against those spreading wrong information on social media, emphasizing that these baseless rumors have caused unnecessary distress to an innocent family.
Result: False
The claims identifying Subhadip Singha Mahapatra as the son of TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra and his involvement in the RG Kar doctor’s rape and murder case are entirely false. The misinformation has been debunked by credible sources, including the police, news outlets, and official statements from the involved parties.