New Delhi: The Supreme Court has highlighted major lapses in the investigation of a rape and murder at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. It called the CBI findings disturbing. Because of the nationwide protests, the case has made it clear that key evidence has been handled improperly, with the court saying “these things do not add up”.
Case Background:
Police found the body of a female doctor in the seminar room of R.G. Kar Medical College on August 9, showing marks of sexual assault and very severe injuries. Following the attack, doctors, students, and local groups protested across India. The Calcutta High Court decided on August 13 that the Kolkata Police were not doing an adequate job, so it handed the investigation over to the CBI. The court itself took up the case on August 18, pointing out that the ruling would influence medical workers’ safety across the nation.
What the Supreme Court Said
Chief Justice Chandrachud and a bench comprising Justices Pardiwala and Misra have closely followed the investigation conducted by the CBI. There were a number of differences that stood out for the court while conducting the hearing:
Its attention was drawn to a missing “challan” paper, a document that provides information about an individual’s clothing. He said, “The absence of this document raises concern.” The CBI pointed out that the record was not among the government’s files, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that its absence raised doubts about the postmortem examination.
According to the court, there was a major delay in registering the UDI report and FIR. After the victim’s body was found at 9:30 AM on August 9, they performed a postmortem from 6:10 PM to 7:10 PM. The UDI was submitted at 11:30 PM. He said he had never come across a procedure like the Kolkata Police in 30 years.
According to the CBI, the status reports reviewed on September 17, 2024, raised concern over possible tampering at the crime scene and with the evidence. The court called attention to the fact that only 27 minutes from the seminar room entrance CCTV was available. This suggests that some video was missed or changed. In addition, the CBI is looking into whether there are further people involved apart from Sanjay Roy, the civic volunteer who was arrested by the police on August 10.
Shock was mentioned by the court for making public the victim’s identity, with her name and pictures revealed on Wikipedia. This was even with laws in India guaranteeing her privacy. On September 17, the court told Wikipedia to take down these details to ensure victim dignity.
CBI Investigation and What Happens after Charges?
On October 7, 2024, the CBI filed a preliminary chargesheet naming Sanjay Roy as a suspect accused of rape and murder. This was under sections 64, 66 and 103(1) of the Indian Criminal Law. In January 2025, a court found Roy guilty and gave him a life sentence. Yet, the government of West Bengal and the CBI are seeking capital punishment, and the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for May 2025. According to its fifth status report, submitted on October 15, 2024, the agency is looking into who might have played a part in this attack.
National Task Force and Safety for Doctors
After the event, the Supreme Court set up a National Task Force (NTF) made up of nine members on August 20, 2024, to create a national plan to protect doctors, especially women. In response to the court’s order, the NTF reviewed issues, including poor restrooms, not enough breaks for people working throughout the night, and increased risks in ICU units. After a protest group attacked R.G. Kar Hospital on August 14, the court ordered the CISF to provide security at the site.
The panel suggested the striking doctors return to work and promised no one would face action for doing so. On September 9, the National Medical Commission said resident doctors in West Bengal had until the following day at 5:00 PM to end their 42-day strike. They were assured that their protests should not undermine patient care.
How West Bengal handled?
The court kept asking about the West Bengal government’s approach to the matter. He said the delay in filing the FIR and the failure to check mob violence at the hospital were criticised by the top court. The state, led by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, argued that the UDI was reported at 10:10 AM and that the CBI was wrong in saying it happened at 11:30 PM. It added that the agency was spreading misleading information. Even so, the court was not sure about the missing challan and told the state to provide more information by September 17, 2024.