Kolkata doctor rape-murder: First call from RG Kar Hospital to family - 'Your daughter died by suicide'

Massive protests against the rape and murder of the 31-year-old doctor.

An assistant superintendent of Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital was the first to call the family of the doctor who was brutally raped and mercilessly killed on Friday. The victim's father said that the official called the family on August 9 and said that their daughter "died by suicide".

Kolkata Police has summoned the assistant superintendent today (Tuesday) for calling the horrific murder a suicide.

The family also claimed that their 31-year-old daughter had been under “mental pressure” and that they suspected an “insider role”, according to a report in The Times of India.

After Kolkata Police arrested civic volunteer Sanjay Roy in the case, the probe was expanded to include hospital staff and doctors with police sources saying over 60 people had been questioned so far.

Seven doctors — four among them who had dined with the victim a little after Thursday-Friday midnight — have recorded their statements with police on Monday, said the TOI report. The food delivery boy who had served them dinner will also be questioned.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case will thoroughly review all footage from the chest medicine department over the past month and analyze call records to determine if the victim had any disputes or arguments with colleagues, including doctors, nurses, interns, and other staff members. TOI cited a senior SIT officer saying that the investigation would include examining everyone involved in the administration.

The SIT has been expanded from seven to 13 officers to meet the deadline set by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has ordered the probe to be completed by Sunday.

As the investigation deepened, it was revealed that the arrested civic volunteer, Roy, had faced multiple allegations, including extortion, intimidation, and even threatening women. An internal inquiry further uncovered that Roy received five liters of diesel daily to use a police motorcycle for personal purposes, which was seized on Monday. Although civic volunteers are not officially part of the police force, they assist officers in non-law enforcement roles and are paid by the state. Despite this, Roy was allegedly involved in influencing police transfers.