Following the Kolkata High Court’s directive, the CBI assumed control of the investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run medical college in Kolkata on Tuesday. Here are the top ten updates:
Upon taking over the case, the CBI promptly completed all necessary formalities as per the High Court’s order, which mandated the state police to transfer the case documents to the central agency. In accordance with procedure, the CBI has re-registered the FIR initially filed by the Kolkata Police. When the CBI takes over a case from state police, it starts by registering the original FIR as its own case, PTI reported.”
“A team of CBI officials from Delhi, accompanied by forensic scientists and medical experts, is scheduled to visit Kolkata on Wednesday. The experts are expected to review the autopsy report and any associated videography, as well as visit the crime scene where the woman’s body was discovered. The agency may also inspect the doctor’s residence and seek court approval for custody of the accused arrested by Kolkata Police on Saturday.
On Tuesday, the West Bengal Doctors’ Forum wrote to the CBI, alleging that evidence tampering might be occurring due to ongoing construction work near the crime scene at a Kolkata hospital. The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor, who had severe injuries, was found on Friday in the seminar hall of the chest department at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The preliminary autopsy indicated she had been violently sexually assaulted.
The letter, signed by Dr. Koushik Chaki and Dr. Sanjoy Holme Chowdhury, expressed concerns about the impact of the construction work on the investigation: ‘We have come across reports of sudden civil reconstruction works in and around the scene of crime at the same institution. We are extremely apprehensive about the motive behind such an effort and we think that this might hamper the investigation by tampering with important evidence.’
On Tuesday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose directed vice-chancellors of state universities to enhance campus security. During a virtual meeting with approximately 30 vice-chancellors, Bose expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by the Kolkata Police and emphasized the need for increased protection for female students, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff. The governor’s instructions came after a critical review of the incident and the police’s response.”
