'Not a simple case of rape and murder': Kolkata doctor was trying to expose something big?

Protests in Kolkata

Questions have emerged about whether the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee (PGT) doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was targeted because she knew too much. Her parents and colleagues suspect that her rape and murder may have been planned to silence her.

A report in The Times of India cited her parents who argued that police volunteer Sanjoy Roy, the only person arrested so far, might be a minor player or even a scapegoat, with the real perpetrators still at large.

Recent details from the doctor's diary and statements from her parents reveal she was under significant stress and work pressure in the weeks leading up to her death. As a second-year PGT doctor, she had already spent over a year at the hospital, where long shifts of up to 36 hours are common. Her diary entries highlight the intense pressure she faced.

Colleagues believe her death may not have been a simple case of rape and murder or an unfortunate accident. They argue she was deliberately targeted, questioning how the civic volunteer knew she would be alone in the seminar hall at that particular time. Some suspect he could be part of a larger scheme orchestrated by more influential figures.

There are also speculations about a possible drug siphoning racket within her department that she might have been trying to expose. Given her reputation for integrity, this could be a motive for her being targeted.

According to the TOI report, her colleagues pointed to a culture of "punishment overwork" that was reportedly enforced under the previous management of RG Kar Medical College, led by former principal Sandip Ghosh. This culture was known to penalize faculty who did not comply with Ghosh’s directives and resulted in serious consequences for MBBS students who failed to meet expectations.