The parents of the 31-year-old postgraduate doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, have expressed grave concerns over the handling of the case by local authorities. They have accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being complicit in the attempt to destroy evidence and shield the perpetrators of the crime.
Allegations of Cover-Up and Evidence Tampering
The victim’s mother claimed that Kolkata Police, the hospital administration, and even TMC representatives played an active role in trying to suppress the truth about the horrific incident, ensuring that the facts did not come to light. In an emotional statement to a Bengali news channel, she said, “Everyone, including the Kolkata Police, the hospital administration, and people’s representatives from the TMC, played an active role to hush up the ghastly incident so that the truth does not come to light.”
The mother also accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of overlooking key aspects of the case, particularly the role of all the individuals involved in the crime, and not fully investigating the larger conspiracy surrounding the incident. She further questioned the failure to secure the crime scene and the tampering of evidence by onlookers entering the area before it was properly sealed.
Criticism of Mamata Banerjee’s Role
The victim’s family has directed sharp criticism at Mamata Banerjee, questioning how she, as the head of both the health and police departments, could be unaware of the failures in the investigation. The mother said, “The CM has to explain why the crime scene could not be sealed and the evidence was tampered with by the entry of many onlookers. She has to explain why, from the footage of 68 people moving in the area on August 9 morning till midday, only one person, Sanjay Roy, was identified as the sole perpetrator of the crime?”
The victim’s father also accused the CBI of failing to address their concerns, despite recording their testimony, and of failing to protect the woman doctor while she was on duty. They allege a deliberate attempt to cover up the conspiracy behind the crime.
Sanjay Roy’s Claim of Innocence
Sanjay Roy, a former police volunteer, was convicted for the crime. During his trial, he maintained his innocence, alleging that he had been “fixed” by the Kolkata Police. Roy claimed that the police made him sign documents under duress, and that he had been wrongly accused of the crime.
TMC Response to the Allegations
Kunal Ghosh, a spokesperson for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), dismissed the allegations from the victim’s parents as “unfortunate”. He suggested that the accusations were driven by external forces with the intent to defame the state government and the CM. Ghosh emphasized that Mamata Banerjee had been proactive in ensuring the swift investigation into the matter, with Kolkata Police arresting Sanjay Roy shortly after the incident. He added that the CBI had taken over the investigation at the Calcutta High Court’s order after the initial probe by Kolkata Police.
Next Steps in the Case
As the investigation continues, questions remain over the role of local authorities and the adequacy of the response from both the state government and the CBI. The family’s calls for justice reflect growing concerns over the handling of high-profile cases and the challenges of ensuring transparency in such sensitive matters.
