RG Kar rape-murder: Calcutta High Court orders CBI SIT probe into ‘hush-up’ allegations
The CBI SIT has been directed to examine the sequence of events from the time the RG Kar post-graduate trainee doctor had dinner on the night of August 9, 2024, until her cremation the following evening.
3 min readKolkataUpdated: May 22, 2026 04:21 AM IST
In the aftermath of the crime, allegations surfaced claiming that evidence was tampered with and efforts were made to suppress or minimise the gravity of the incident. (Express file photo)
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered the setting up of a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate allegations that there were attempts to “hush up” the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in 2024.
A division bench of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Tirthankar Ghosh instructed the SIT to closely examine the sequence of events from the time the post-graduate trainee doctor had dinner at the hospital on the night of August 9, 2024, until her cremation the following evening. The bench also directed the team to submit a detailed report by June 25, when the matter will next be heard.
The bench said that, considering the social ramifications of the gruesome incident, the SIT would look into charges of evidence destruction and allegations made by the medic’s parents that there were attempts to downplay the incident.
The CBI joint director (east) will head the SIT, while the names of the other two members will be finalised within 48 hours.
The case had triggered widespread outrage across West Bengal and among doctors’ associations nationwide.
The victim’s parents approached the high court seeking a deeper investigation, alleging that more than one person was involved in the crime and claiming there were efforts to downplay the matter in the immediate aftermath.
Earlier, civic volunteer Sanjay Roy was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape-murder of the trainee doctor.
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The BJP fielded the victim’s mother, Ratna Debnath, in the West Bengal Assembly elections. Contesting from Panihati Assembly Constituency, Debnath secured a decisive victory, defeating the TMC’s Tirthankar Ghosh by a margin of 28,836 votes.
After the new BJP government took oath in West Bengal, Vineet Goyal, the then Kolkata police commissioner, Abhishek Gupta, the then deputy commissioner of police (north), and Indira Mukherjee, deputy commissioner of police (central), were suspended for allegedly mishandling the RG Kar rape-murder case. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in a press conference that departmental proceedings would be initiated against the three IPS officers.
“We have investigated the incident, but only the police’s action, because the CBI is investigating the core issue. How the police mishandled the case and offered a bribe to the parents of the victim. After a preliminary investigation, we are suspending three IPS officers because during the detailed investigation, they should not be on duty. They will be given an opportunity to present their side. The investigation will reveal if the police officers offered the victim’s parents the bribe on their own or if any officer, minister, or chief minister gave the order,” Adhikari added.
Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain.
Experience
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express.
Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news.
Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions.
Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal.
Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla.
Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent.
Education
Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting.
Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University.
Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More
