The Calcutta High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe allegations of evidence destruction and attempts to hush up the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court directed the CBI to constitute the three-member SIT within 48 hours.
A division bench comprising Justices Shampa Sarkar and Tirthankar Ghosh said the SIT would be headed by the CBI’s Joint Director (East). The remaining two members of the team are to be selected shortly. The court also instructed the SIT to submit a comprehensive report by June 25.
The High Court directed the new SIT to investigate the sequence of events from the time the trainee doctor had dinner at the hospital on the night of August 9, 2024, until her cremation the following evening. The court noted that the case had serious social ramifications and that allegations of suppression and destruction of evidence required an independent and deeper probe.
The case had triggered nationwide outrage after the young doctor was raped and murdered inside the hospital premises in August 2024. The incident sparked protests by doctors and medical students across India demanding justice and improved workplace safety for women healthcare workers.
The victim’s parents had approached the High Court seeking a further investigation, claiming that more than one person was involved in the crime and alleging that attempts were made to cover up crucial evidence during the initial stages of the investigation.
The court’s latest order comes amid continued scrutiny of the original probe conducted by the CBI. Earlier, concerns had been raised over alleged lapses in the investigation, including claims that key evidence was mishandled and important leads were ignored.
Civic volunteer Sanjay Roy had earlier been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor. However, the victim’s family and several activists continued to demand a broader investigation into an alleged larger conspiracy and possible efforts to suppress facts linked to the case.
The High Court’s decision is being seen as a significant development in the long-running case, with the new SIT expected to examine whether any officials or individuals attempted to influence, delay, or derail the investigation in its early stages.
