SC tears into Kolkata Police on doctor rape-murder probe: Big questions judges asked today

The Apex court

The Supreme Court resumed hearing pleas on Thursday in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The court pulled up the West Bengal government after CBI claimed that by the time they took over the investigation from Kolkata Police on Day 5, the evidence had been altered.

As the Kolkata rape-murder crime scene cover up is under SC lens, the court asked big questions over the investigation:

1. What were the hospital authorities doing for so long?

The court observed that it was extremely disturbing that though the rape-murder took place in the night of August 8-9, the police was informed about the crime only at 10.10 am on August 9.

2. Why crime scene sealed only after autopsy?

The court said though the rape-murder happened in the night, the crime scene was secured after more than 18 hours at around 7 pm after the post mortem of the body.

3. Why criminal procedure code not followed?

The court said the entire procedure followed by Kolkata police in the R G Kar hospital rape-murder is not what is prescribed by criminal procedure code.

4. When was unnatural death case registered?

SC asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal to keep a responsible police officer during the next hearing as the court has not yet got an answer as to when the unnatural death case was registered.

5. Why did RG Kar Asst Superintendent act in such manner?

Justice Pardiwala said that he had not seen such procedure in 30 years of his career and questioned the role of Asst Superintendent Non-Medical in RG Kar. "The entire procedure followed by your state is something which I have not come across in the 30 years of my career. The first thing, is it true that the UD was recorded at 10:30 hours? Second, who is this Asst. Superintendent Non-Medical? Her conduct is also very doubtful, why did she act in this manner?" he asked the West Bengal government.

6. Why principal was transferred immediately to a new place?

Sandip Ghosh, the principal of the RG Kar Hospital, was transferred immediately to a new hospital after the incident triggered massive outrage across the nation. The court asked the government to explain why Ghosh was transferred soon after the incident.