The former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered, has arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Kolkata for the fourth day of questioning.

Ordered by the Calcutta High Court to probe the brutal rape-murder, the CBI is also examining Sandip Ghosh’s call records and chats. He has been asked to provide details of his phone calls before and after the incident that occurred on August 9.

The CBI team is also planning to get the details of Mr Ghosh’s phone calls and data consumption from his mobile phone service provider.

On Saturday, the second consecutive day of questioning, the former principal, was grilled for over 13 hours after he reached the office at 11 am. The questioning went on till past midnight.

During the questioning, Mr Ghosh was asked to detail his steps after he got the news of the trainee doctor’s doctor, especially why he did not inform her parents about it for nearly three hours.

He was also asked about the sudden renovation of rooms near the seminar hall, where the body was found.

The answers given by Mr Ghosh will be verified by the investigators with versions provided by other doctors and interns who were on duty along with the victim on the night of the incident.

So far, the probe agency has questioned over 20 people including doctors and college staff.

The former principal had resigned from the post two days after the woman’s body was found. He had expressed fears of being attacked, prompting his lawyer to seek protection from the Calcutta High Court. The court directed him to approach a single bench.

The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjoy Roy, who had access to the hospital that night and he is now the main accused in the case. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The Kolkata Police today summoned Trinamool Congress MP  Sukhendu Shekhar Ray for allegedly spreading misinformation about the details surrounding the brutal rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Mr Ray had claimed that a dog squad was sent to the crime scene three days after the body of the victim was found on August 9. 

“The information that the sniffer dog was sent after three days is completely wrong. A sniffer dog was sent twice on August 9 and then on 12. A notice has been sent to Shri Sukhendu Sekhar Roy,” the Kolkata Police said in a statement. 

The summons follows closely on the heels of the Kolkata Police issuing notices to actor-turned-politician and BJP leader Locket Chatterjee and two doctors – Kunal Sarkar and Subarno Goswami – over misinformation surrounding the incident. 

Read | BJP Leader, 2 Doctors Summoned Over ‘Fake News’ On Kolkata Rape-Murder

Mr Ray, 75, barely 12 hours ago, had raised serious questions about the conduct of the investigation and expressed his dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by calling for the custodial interrogation of both the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Dr Sandip Ghosh, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

“CBI must act fairly. Custodial interrogation of Ex Principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why floated suicide story. Why wall of hall demolished, who patronised Roy to be so powerful, Why sniffer dog used after 3 days. 100s of such questions. Make them speak,” Mr Ray posted. 

The call for Commissioner Goyal’s interrogation has, however, not been universally accepted within the party. Kunal Ghosh, another prominent Trinamool leader, strongly opposed the demand.

READ | Should Kolkata Top Cop Be Interrogated? Trinamool Leaders Differ 

“I also demand justice in the RG Kar case but strongly oppose this demand regarding CP. After getting the information, he has tried his best. Personally, CP was doing his job, and the investigation was in a positive focus. This kind of post is unfortunate, that too from my senior leader,” Mr Ghosh said.

I also demand justice in RGKar case.
But strongly oppose this demand regarding CP. After got information He has tried his best. Personally CP was doing his job and investigation was in a positive focus. This kind of post is unfortunate, that too from my senior leader. https://t.co/quLVsUEXCd

— Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) August 18, 2024

Mr Ray was one of the first TMC leaders to announce his participation in the nationwide midnight protest over the rape and murder. He made the announcement on X, expressing solidarity with the protesters.

“Tomorrow I am going to join the protesters, particularly because I have a daughter and little granddaughter like millions of Bengali families. We must rise to the occasion. Enough of cruelty against women. Let’s resist together. Come what may,” Mr Ray posted.

Mr Ray’s stance, however,  led to speculation about his position within the party. When questioned by a user on X about the potential consequences of his actions, including the possibility of being expelled from the Trinamool Congress, Mr Ray responded: “Please need not worry for my fate. Blood of a freedom fighter flows in my veins. I’m least bothered.”

Besides the Trinamool leader, the Kolkata Police sent notices to BJP’s Locket Chatterjee and two prominent doctors.

Kolkata:

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday interrogated the former head of the Kolkata medical college where a doctor was raped and murdered last week. Dr Sandip Ghosh had resigned as the principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital two days after the doctor’s body was found in a seminar room at the hospital.

The CBI questioned Dr Ghosh, who is on a long leave as per a court direction, two days in a row. He was questioned till midnight on both Friday and Saturday. He has been summoned again at 11 am today.

Here’s a list of questions that Dr Ghosh has been asked so far:

• The CBI asked Dr Ghosh about his whereabouts on the night the trainee doctor was raped and murdered.
• He was also asked who informed him about the incident, reported news agency PTI. His statement was also corroborated by the CBI officials with the versions of other doctors and nurses who were on duty that night.
• The former principal was also asked what was his first reaction to the news of the doctor’s death.
• The CBI also asked him whom did he ask to inform the family and who contacted the police.
• Dr Ghosh was also asked about the weekly roster of the chest medicine department where the doctor was often put on 36-48 hours duty.

Some of Dr Ghosh’s answers were convoluted, PTI reported citing a CBI officer.

At least two psychologists from New Delhi attended the questioning session on Saturday, the report said.

The CBI has prepared a list of around 40 people who will be questioned as part of their probe into the rape and murder of the trainee doctor. This includes doctors and police officers.

The officials have also recorded a written statement of the mother of Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer who was arrested a day after the doctor’s body was discovered on August 9.

New Delhi:

Amid nationwide protests and outrage over a trainee doctor’s rape and murder in a Kolkata hospital during her duty hours, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a diktat to all states asking them to submit reports on law and order situation every two hours.

As per the notification, the Home Ministry has directed all state police forces of the country to send reports every two hours via mail, fax or even WhatsApp.

“Regarding two hourly law and order situation reports. The competent authority has desired to monitor the law and order situation report of your state/UT against the murder of a trainee woman doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal. Henceforth, a continuous two-hourly law and order situation report in this regard may kindly be sent to the MHA control room by fax/e-mail/WhatsApp from 4 pm today (16/08/24), the MHA reportedly stated.

NDTV has learnt that states have started sending reports, starting August 16.

“This will ensure that reports concerning crucial issues reach in time,” disclosed a senior official.

He said in the Kolkata rape case, several lacunae were noticed. “In such crucial cases, action needs to be taken swiftly,” he added.

The 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was found brutally murdered at the seminar hall of the government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

The incident highlighted several serious flaws and lack of support from concerned officials and this issue acted as a trigger for the protests. After a mass anger over no significant progress by the local police, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI.

“This crucial step has been taken to keep a vigil on the security situations in all the states and the UTs,” stated a senior MHA functionary.

Kolkata:

Amid nationwide uproar over the Kolkata hospital rape-murder, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a rally this evening to demand death penalty for the accused. She has given a Sunday ultimatum to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the central agency that has taken over the probe, to ensure that the accused is hanged till death by then.

With the protesters accusing the police of mishandling the case and the Trinamool of trying destroy evidence – a rally by the Chief Minister came as a surprise to many. Ms Banerjee holds the police and home portfolios in the state administration.

Trinamool MP and spokesperson Derek O’Brien clarified why the party chief will hit the streets today.

“It is hard to conceive of a more bestial, heinous crime than the murder and rape of a young woman that took place in Kolkata. The public outrage is entirely understandable. Thoughts and prayers with her family,” he said as he sought to justify the upcoming rally.

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“Why is Mamata Banerjee leading a rally on the RG Kar Hospital incident?” “Fair question,” he said.

“Because: CBI, which is now handling the case, must give daily updates on the investigation. The deadline given by the CM to Kolkata Police to complete the investigation was August 17. The same must apply to CBI,” the senior Trinamool leader added.

He pointed out that an accused was arrested by Kolkata Police and justice will happen only when CBI arrests all other involved and send the case to a fast-track court.

“CBI taking over the case shouldn’t lead to it being quietly buried. The urgent need of the hour is swift justice and the harshest punishment for the culprits. No one who committed this barbaric act must be spared,” added the quiz master-turned-politician.

It is hard to conceive of a more bestial, heinous crime than the murder and rape of a young woman that took place in Kolkata. The public outrage is entirely understandable. Thoughts and prayers with her family.

“Why is @MamataOfficial leading a rally on the RG Kar Hospital…

— Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) August 16, 2024

He also called for action against the mob that ransacked the hospital where the doctor was raped and murder. Sharing an update on police action, he said 19 people have been arrested so far.

The incident at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has sparked protests and strikes by doctors across the country. The hospital was vandalised by a mob during a midnight protest two days ago.

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Ms Banerjee had earlier vowed to hand over the rape-murder probe to the CBI if the police were not able to solve it by Sunday. The Calcutta High Court, however, was not ready to allow any “further loss of time” and asked the CBI to take over on Tuesday.

Shifting her ultimatum to the CBI, the Chief Minister had said the central agency must now complete the probe by Sunday.

Kolkata:

The 31-year-old doctor, who was raped and killed at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital late on Thursday night, watched Neeraj Chopra’s silver-winning throw at Paris Olympics along with four colleagues hours before the horrifying incident snuffed out her life.

All the doctors, reports say, were on night duty and ordered out. They ate together while watching Neeraj Chopra’s stunning show. The victim then called up her mother, told her that she had eaten and asked her to have dinner. Dinner done, her colleagues left for their workstations while she stayed in the seminar hall to study.

According to some reports, she dozed off at some point. The CCTV footage on the basis of which the accused, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested showed him entering the Emergency building — where the victim was — around 4 am. At 7.30 am the next morning, her body was found. A preliminary examination found injuries on eyes, mouth, face, private parts and limbs.

Police have now decided to question the doctor’s four colleagues who were on night duty that day, reports say.

The investigators are also not ruling out the involvement of more people in the crime. Commission of Police Vineet Goyal today said all those who were at the place of occurrence are being called in for questioning. “We have already started a helpline number. Doctors can tell us (give information by calling on the helpline). They can communicate anonymously. They can come and talk to us physically too. They can tell us if they suspect someone and the reasons behind it. We are certain that in next 4-5 days, if there are more culprits, we will be able to arrest them,” he said after visiting the victim’s home with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The Chief Minister has set a deadline for the city police and said that if they do not complete the investigation by Sunday, the state government would recommend a CBI probe.

“There were nurses and others around. I still don’t understand how this incident took place. The parents have told me that they suspect the involvement of an insider. I have told the police that if there is any such doubt against anyone, the victim’s friends, the first caller, and others should be questioned,” she said after meeting the victim’s family.

“I want the police to arrest the culprits as soon as possible. If they are not able to crack the case by Sunday, we will not keep the case in our hands anymore and hand it over to the CBI. I don’t have an issue with them taking over but their success rate is low,” she added.

The accused, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested the day after the incident. He was a civic volunteer attached with Kolkata Police and frequented the state-run hospital. Roy was tracked down after CCTV footage showed him entering the building early that morning and a Bluetooth headset pairing with his phone was found at the crime scene.

New Delhi:

The rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College has shaken the nation, and the Bengal government and police are under immense pressure to solve the case at its earliest. City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal said that the investigation is still underway, and questions about whether more people were involved in the heinous crime can be only after the probe is completed.

Mr Goyal said that one accused, Sanjoy Roy, has been arrested and they are looking at other people who have any connection to the incident. “Everyone has been called and those who haven’t will be. We have also started a helpline number, doctors can give us information anonymously if they suspect anyone. We are also in touch with the family. We will share the progress of information,” he said.

“We are sure that if more people are involved, we will be able to arrest them in the next four to five days. Despite that, if the family is not satisfied, what Madam said will happen,” the Kolkata cop added.

The body of the 32-year-old woman was found in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital in the West Bengal capital on Thursday night. The initial autopsy report stated that the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth, and private parts. There were also injuries on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger, and lips.

Sanjoy Roy, the main accused in the case, was not a hospital employee but was frequently seen in buildings on the campus. Roy worked as a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police. Civic volunteers are contractual staff recruited to assist cops in various kinds of work, including traffic management and disaster response. Paid around Rs 12,000 a month, these volunteers do not enjoy the facilities available to regular police personnel.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also assured that the Kolkata Police will complete the investigation by next Sunday. She said that if they are unable to do so, the probe will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Also read: Kolkata Doctor’s Rape-Murder Accused Posed As Cop, Said “Hang Me” On Arrest

‘Remember What Happened In RG Kar?’ Bengal Doctor Gets Rape-Murder Threat

Doctors Across India To Go On Indefinite Strike Over Kolkata Murder

New Delhi:

Doctors of several hospitals across India have announced an indefinite strike to protest against the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and several other cities have announced that all elective services would be halted till a probe is completed in the case. The protesters are also demanding adequate security for all medical staff.

The announcement comes days after a postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata while on duty.

The body of the 32-year-old woman was found in the seminar hall of the government-run hospital in the West Bengal capital on Thursday night. The initial autopsy report stated that the victim was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts. There were also injuries on her left leg, neck, right hand, ring finger and lips.

City Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal visited the medical establishment on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a meeting with representatives of agitating junior doctors.

He claimed the probe is “transparent” and urged people not to spread rumours.

Police have arrested one person in the case, a civic volunteer who is not associated with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but used to frequent the place.

The man, Sanjoy Roy, had returned to his place and went to sleep before washing his clothes the next morning to destroy evidence, a police officer probing the case claimed.