Why Was Rape-Murder of RG Kar Medico Registered As Suicide? Calcutta HC Questions State

Kolkata: While considering the pleas concerning the brutal rape and murder of a 2nd-year PG medical student at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Calcutta High Court today i.e. on August 13 sought to know from the State why the police initially registered the deceased's death as a suicide.

Today, a Division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya further observed that the deceased's parents were informed that she had committed suicide and they were made to wait for hours before they were permitted to see her body.

In this regard, the HC bench observed, "If it is a fact that somebody called the parent and told them that it was sickness and then suicide, there is a miss somewhere. If this is true that they were made to wait and mislead then the administration is loitering with them. You cannot treat the deceased like this. There should be more sensitivity. Suppose the doctors are made parties and they claim that the principal blamed the deceased and said she had psychosis, it is very serious. By now a statement should have been recorded from the principal."

Further, the Court also questioned why the Principal of RG Kar Medical College, who resigned from his post yesterday, was rewarded with another appointment within 12 hours. Observing that he should not work anywhere, the Court has asked the State to let him go on a long leave, adding that otherwise, it would pass an order.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the half-naked body of the deceased was recovered from the seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning. A preliminary autopsy report has indicated sexual abuse before she was killed. As per the inquest report, there was bleeding from the doctor's eyes and mouth, injury on the face and nails, bleeding from her genitals, and several other injury marks on different parts of her body. Soon after the news of this horrific incident came to light, doctors in Bengal and across the country started a massive protest demanding justice.

Earlier, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Calcutta HC seeking a CBI investigation into the matter. Now the parents of the deceased have also approached the High Court and they were represented by Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.

Also Read: RG Kar Medical College PG medico Murder Case: Doctors Across India on Protest, CM Assures CBI Probe if Mystery Not Resolved

As per the latest media report by Live Law, the parents' counsel submitted before the Court that initially they received a phone call claiming that she had fallen sick and after they reached the hospital, they were informed that the doctor had committed suicide. However, they were allegedly not allowed to see the deceased's body for up to three hours while they were waiting there.

Further, it was submitted that when they saw the deceased's body for identification, they were convinced that the incident could not have been a suicide due to the gruesome nature of the injuries. 

The counsel for the deceased's parents urged the Court to issue order and immediately transfer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It was argued that the matter required immediate attention since crucial evidence could be destroyed with the passage of time.

Apart from this, the petitioners' counsel submitted that the former principal of R G Kar hospital Dr. Sandip Ghosh, resigned from his post claiming "moral responsibility". However, it was highlighted that within a few hours, Dr. Ghosh was appointed as the principal of another government college i.e. Calcutta National Medical College.

Taking note of these submissions, the HC bench observed, "If the principal has stepped down owing moral responsibility, rather serious that he is rewarded within 12 hours with another appointment. There is an apprehension that with lost time there is something that will go wrong. No man is above law, how did he step down and then be rewarded with another responsibility? The principal is the guardian of all doctors working there, if he doesn't show any empathy who will show? He should be at home not working anywhere. So powerful that a government counsel is representing him? The principal will not function. Let him go on long leave. Otherwise, we will pass an order."

Meanwhile, responding to these allegations, the State submitted that they had been carrying out a thorough investigation and there was no scope for any further investigation.

It was further submitted that a case of unnatural death was registered since there was no complaint registered when the deceased's body was found. Apart from this, the State also submitted that even though a complaint could have been filed by officials or the principal, none was received.

The Court expressed its dissatisfaction after taking note of these submission. Slamming the State, the HC bench observed, "We can't understand. You didn't find the body on the road? The principal could have been the complainant. So you will reward him?! (for not filing a complaint) That's enough. We have heard. You are protecting him. this is unacceptable. Suppose you find a body on the road- even then - every day the newspapers have request for information. This is inhuman."

The matter has been listed for further hearing at 2:45 pm to consider the petitioners' prayer for the transfer of the prove to the CBI.

Also Read: Black Day for Indian Medical Fraternity: Doctors Take to Streets to Demand Justice for Colleague's Rape and Murder