CBI tells HC No gangrape in RG Kar case, investigating larger conspiracy
Calcutta High Court
Kolkata: In the ongoing investigation into the tragic rape-murder of a PG doctor tarinee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last August, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Calcutta High Court on Friday that medical reports had confirmed rape, but not gang rape. The agency also revealed that it was probing whether there was any attempt to cover up the incident, but conceded that it could not provide a timeline for when the investigation would be completed.
The clarification was made during the hearing of a petition filed by the victim’s parents, who sought further investigation into the case.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday instructed the counsel for the parents of the woman PG trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in August, to seek clarification from the Supreme Court and a division bench of the High Court regarding their petition for a fresh investigation into the case.
Also Read: RG Kar Rape-Murder: Calcutta HC directs parents to seek clarification on fresh probe
CBI counsel Rajdeep Majumder briefed Justice Tirthankar Ghosh during the hearing, explaining that the agency was focusing its investigation on two main aspects: the larger conspiracy following the incident and the destruction of evidence. Majumder further emphasized that the investigation was specifically directed towards actions related to evidence destruction in the aftermath of the crime.
As per the recent media reports by The Hindu, “All forensic opinions have been taken. All available DNA at the scene of the crime was examined. That was sent to the forensic experts... A medical board of 14 doctors was formed from different parts of the country, including gynaecologists, orthopaedics, general surgeons, DNA experts, and other experts... We have investigated everything; all nurses, all doctors, all persons associated with the hospital have been examined...all aspects have been covered by the investigating agency,” the CBI counsel said in court.
During the hearing when the judge asked CBI to reveal when the investigation could be completed, one could not be provided by the agency. Majumder said that it was a voluminous document and that they could not commit to a specific time frame at that moment.
Also Read: Supreme Court rejects Fresh CBI Probe, asks RG Kar Victim's parents to approach HC
According to TOI, Justice Ghosh asked CBI to produce on April 23 the case diary handed over to them by Kolkata Police, and provide a list of people the agency had examined. "I want to assess why this (further investigation) is taking time," the judge said. "You have submitted that you cannot give a timeline, which means you must be stuck somewhere.... They (CBI) have some problems, as a court of law I am trying to learn from them."
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for April 23, where the CBI is expected to provide further details.
The Court also raised concerns about discrepancies in the medical examination reports. Justice Ghosh pointed out that the postmortem report failed to mention two injuries that had been noted in the inquest report—one located on the victim's belly and the other on the right-hand ring finger.
Justice Ghosh also stated that during the next hearing, he would address the legal question of whether the court could revive a concluded investigation. Senior counsel representing the state, Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, confirmed that while the state did not object to the probe into a potential cover-up, the question of law remains regarding the court’s authority to intervene in an already concluded investigation.
