CBI summons 11 Kolkata cops in RG Kar rape-murder; Fresh chargesheet soon

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned 11 police personnel who were on duty at the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital outpost on August 9, 2024, when a trainee doctor was raped and murdered. The summoned officers, including sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, and constables from Tala Police Station, have been asked to appear at the CGO Complex on Monday and Tuesday for questioning.

Sources said the CBI is preparing to file a supplementary chargesheet, which is expected to provide details about possible evidence tampering during the initial probe and establish a broader motive behind the crime. Investigators are seeking statements from the summoned officers regarding their instructions from senior officials on the morning of August 9, any suspicious activities noticed on the night of the crime, and any external interference within the hospital premises or police outpost.

The case has seen multiple developments since the incident. Civic volunteer Sanjay Rai was arrested on August 10, after police identified him using a Bluetooth earphone found near the victim’s body and CCTV footage placing him at the crime scene. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on January 20. Meanwhile, former RG Kar hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and ex-Tala Police Station officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal were arrested on charges of evidence tampering but were granted bail in December after the CBI failed to file a supplementary chargesheet within 90 days. Ghosh remains in judicial custody due to a separate financial irregularities case.

On February 24, the CBI submitted a status report on its investigation to a Kolkata court, stating that the probe is ongoing and a supplementary chargesheet will be filed soon. The next Supreme Court hearing in the case is scheduled for March 17. Last week, the victim’s parents met CBI Director Praveen Sood in Delhi and formally complained about the slow progress of the investigation. They were assured that justice would be served.

The CBI’s ongoing investigation is expected to focus on the sequence of events at the hospital outpost on the day of the crime, possible lapses in handling the case, and any external influence in the initial probe. The agency is working toward submitting the supplementary chargesheet before the upcoming court hearing.