RG Kar rape-murder: Parents of victim tightlipped over senior lawyer withdrawing from case

In a statement, Grover said she has withdrawn from the case in the Supreme Court, the Calcutta High Court, and the Sealdah trial court.  “As lawyers and officers of the court, Advocate Vrinda Grover and her legal associates render legal services only in accordance with law, evidence, and professional ethics. At this stage, on account of certain intervening factors and circumstances, the chamber of Advocate Vrinda Grover is constrained to withdraw from the case proceedings in this matter and will no longer be representing the victim’s family,” the statement said.

The statement added that Grover’s team had been providing pro bono service to the victim’s family since September 2024, nearly a month after the August 9 rape and murder incident.

“During this period, the evidence of 43 prosecution witnesses has been recorded, and bail for other accused persons consistently and successfully opposed. The remaining prosecution evidence is due to be completed in the next 2 to 3 days,” Grover said in a statement.

It mentioned that the trial court had been informed, and the lawyers had been discharged from the case.

Her legal team included advocates Soutik Banerjee and Arjun Gooptu, who represented the family in multiple courts, including daily appearances in the trial at Sealdah sessions court.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognisance of the matter and has been monitoring the progress of the probe, had said the trial at the Sealdah court would likely conclude in a month’s time after perusing the latest status report of the CBI in the rape and murder case.

The rape and murder of the young doctor had sparked protests in the state and nationwide outrage. A 33-year-old civic volunteer, working for the Kolkata Police, was arrested a day after the body of the junior doctor was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital.

Three days later, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating that the Kolkata Police’s investigation did not inspire confidence.