"When will the investigation be over?" HC slams CBI over RG Kar probe, orders 'no' old officers in new panel

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction with the pace of the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe into the RG Kar case, questioning the agency over the progress of its investigation. During the hearing, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh asked, "When will the investigation be over?" while observing that one year and seven months had passed since the charge sheet was filed. Justice Shampa Sarkar also questioned the CBI regarding the victim's mother's statement, asking why it had not been produced before the Court despite the agency stating that it had been recorded.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh observed that the CBI appeared to be adopting a lackadaisical approach and remarked that either the State should admit its failure to deliver justice or state that no one was responsible for the alleged destruction of evidence. The Court warned that if the investigation continued in the same manner, it could withdraw the probe from the CBI and record that the agency had failed to comply with the Court's directions. Justice Shampa Sarkar further observed that the Court's earlier order had intended for the investigation to be transferred from the previous investigating officers to the newly constituted Special Investigation Team and questioned whether the agency was showing undue sympathy towards its own officers.

During the hearing, the victim's family submitted that if the CBI was unable to conduct the investigation effectively, the case should be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department. The Court, however, stated that it continued to have confidence in the CBI and expected the agency to conduct a proper investigation. It directed that none of the previous investigating officers should be included in the newly constituted Special Investigation Team, granted additional time for the next phase of the investigation, and fixed August 6 as the next date of hearing.