UPDATE ON KOLKATA DOCTOR RAPE-MURDER CASE
The Supreme Court will review the status report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today, August 22. The report, ordered by the Supreme Court, concerns the investigation into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud is expected to receive the CBI’s findings in a sealed cover.
The hearing is set for 10:30 am, during which the CBI will provide an overview of its progress in the investigation. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court had directed the CBI to submit this report.
According to insider sources, the report will detail the current stage of the investigation, including scientific tests like polygraph examinations. Although the CBI has been discreet about the details of its investigation, an outline of its progress is available.
WHAT WILL THE CBI’S REPORT CONTAIN?
The CBI’s status report is expected to include:
- The current progress of the investigation
- The number of witness statements recorded
- Confessions made by the accused, Sanjay Roy, during interrogation
- Key findings from forensic analyses
- A summary of how the accused’s statements align with the crime scene reconstruction
- Determination of whether Sanjay Roy acted alone or if others were involved
- Involvement of former principal Sandeep Ghosh in the case
- Any deficiencies in the Kolkata Police’s initial investigation
- Suspicious activities of individuals, including ASI Arup Dutta, that warrant further investigation
A CBI team in Kolkata, led by Additional Director Sampat Meena and ASP Seema Pahuja, has been working on this report. They plan to complete and present it to the Supreme Court by this morning.
WHAT HAS THE CBI ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR?
The investigation has seen several key developments:
- The CBI has extensively interrogated the main accused, Sanjay Roy, and the former principal, Sandeep Ghosh, over the past six days.
- Forensic teams have conducted thorough tests at the hospital to gather evidence.
- Five forensic psychologists from the CBI’s CFSL team have conducted a psychological assessment of Sanjay Roy, which will help evaluate the reliability of his statements.
- Sanjay Roy will also undergo a polygraph test, the results of which will be included in the Supreme Court report.
- The investigation team is exploring whether Sanjay Roy acted alone or had accomplices.
- The CBI has revisited the crime scene multiple times over the past week, collected samples, and reviewed CCTV footage to trace Sanjay Roy’s movements before and after the crime.
- Numerous footprints found at the crime scene and ongoing renovations in the area have raised concerns about potential evidence tampering.
FORMER PRINCIPAL SANDEEP GHOSH UNDER SCRUTINY:
- Why did Sandeep Ghosh inform the family that their daughter had committed suicide so quickly?
- Was this information intended to conceal the murder and destroy evidence?
- Why did Ghosh convene a meeting with hospital staff before reporting the incident to the police?
- Why did he resign immediately and take up a new position? Was this an attempt to avoid suspicion?
The CBI is also investigating Ghosh for possible evidence tampering and his role in a potential larger conspiracy.
After conducting a psychological test, the CBI sought court approval for a polygraph test of Sanjay Roy, which was granted. However, the test can only be administered with Roy’s consent. It remains unclear if the preliminary polygraph results will be included in the Supreme Court report.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS TO DATE:
The CBI’s report to the Supreme Court is likely to include the following points:
- Evidence pointing to Sanjay Roy as the sole perpetrator.
- Hospital CCTV footage and forensic evidence implicate Sanjay Roy in the crime.
- Former principal Sandeep Ghosh’s actions after the crime are under investigation.
- The crime scene was not adequately secured.
- There was a significant delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR).
- The victim’s family was misled about the nature of the incident.
- Concerns about the Kolkata Police’s handling of the case have been raised.
- Various irregularities and issues within the hospital have been identified.
- Complaints related to RG Kar Hospital were ignored by the former principal.