Kolkata doctor rape-murder case Highlights: Calcutta HC transfers R G Kar Hospital ‘financial irregularities case’ to CBI

Indian students, charities and diaspora organisations in Britain organised a series of events to continue to highlight their demand for justice following the rape-murder the doctor at the RG Kar Medical College.

While women's organisations came together to organise peace vigils at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square in London and across several other UK cities on Thursday, the Students' Federation of India – United Kingdom (SFI-UK) organised a march in the city of Liverpool on Wednesday.

The hundreds who gathered at London's Parliament Square lit candles to spell out “Justice” and held placards with messages calling for respect and empowerment of women. “We have received overwhelming support from the entire world, proving that the time has come to wake up, take notice, rise up above our individual interests and join hands in our endeavour of showing support and solidarity to the cause,” said Dr Dipti Jain of the Medicos Women Charity, quoted PTI.

Accused Sanjay Roy, prime accused in the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar College and Hospital brought to Sealdah Court in Kolkata.

In a major relief to patients, healthcare services treaded to normal capacity in several states and Union Territories on Thursday and Friday. Doctors bodies and hospitals in Delhi, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, among others called off their strike. Read the full list here

The CBI, which is probing the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, told the Supreme Court Thursday that “our investigation itself is a challenge… because the scene of offence” has been “altered”.

The probe into the August 9 incident, which sparked protests by doctors in several parts of the country, was transferred from Kolkata Police to the CBI on August 13 by the Calcutta High Court which voiced its displeasure over the handling of the case and said there appeared to be “no significant progress” in the police investigation. A day later, a mob targeted doctors holding a protest at night and vandalised sections of the hospital. Read full report here

Junior doctors at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Jharkhand's Ranchi resumed work on Friday as they withdrew their 'pen down' agitation over the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic in Kolkata, reports PTI.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum, which is spearheading the agitation, said: “As part of our action plan, we will send a delegation to the CBI office on Friday. We will go there to inform them about some of our concerns, to learn about the progress of the investigation, and to present some proposals.”

Healthcare services were severely hit at state-run hospitals on Friday, as junior doctors continued their strike for the 15th consecutive day to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. This comes despite the Supreme Court’s appeal to them to resume work.

“We are just 17 women in our hostel now. It used to house 160 junior women doctors belonging to different courses before August 9,” said a 24-year-old fourth-year MBBS student at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital where the rape and murder of a junior doctor shocked the nation.

According to junior doctors, other than the nursing hostel, almost all the hostels at RG Kar Medical College are deserted.

The exodus began on August 9 itself when the body of the junior doctor was found in the seminar room of the institution.

“After August 9, students started to leave the campus. Some returned a couple of days later. But after the attack on the hospital by miscreants on the night of August 14, more students, especially the girls left,” the MBBS student added, referring to the vandalism of a section of the hospital by a mob when protests were taking place outside the hospital gate.

There are five hostels for women doctors and students on the RG Kar hospital campus. Read Full Report

Junior doctors protesting over the rape and murder of their colleague at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday night said that they would continue their agitation since the Supreme Court’s observation and submission by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pointed towards a “cover-up” by Kolkata Police during the initial course of investigation.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum, which is spearheading the agitation, said: “As part of our action plan, we will send a delegation to the CBI office on Friday. We will go there to inform them about some of our concerns, to learn about the progress of the investigation, and to present some proposals.” Read Full Report

THE CBI is doing a psychological profile of the accused in the  Kolkata junior doctor’s rape and murder case.

The exercise, rarely conducted by the agency, is aimed at ascertaining not just the mental state of the accused but also trace what prompted him to allegedly indulge in the violence against the deceased trainee doctor, The Indian Express has learnt from CBI sources.

A psychological profile is a character assessment of the accused, which can be produced in a court of law. The exercise helps understand the psyche of criminals to prevent serious crimes in the future, said the sources.

The profile of the accused, Sanjay Roy, will help the investigators understand the root cause of his violent behaviour. It will also reveal whether the accused had planned the act or if he had the support of co-conspirators or other accused, CBI sources said. Read Full Report

The CBI, which is probing the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, told the Supreme Court Thursday that “our investigation itself is a challenge… because the scene of offence” has been “altered”.

The probe into the August 9 incident, which sparked protests by doctors in several parts of the country, was transferred from Kolkata Police to the CBI on August 13 by the Calcutta High Court which voiced its displeasure over the handling of the case and said there appeared to be “no significant progress” in the police investigation. A day later, a mob targeted doctors holding a protest at night and vandalised sections of the hospital. Read Full Report

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented former RG Kar Hospital Principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors in Sealdah court today regarding the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor on August 9. The court has authorised polygraph tests for Ghosh and the four doctors, who were present with the victim in her final hours.

The CBI on Thursday sought a polygraph test on former RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at the medical facility, officials said.

The CBI took Ghosh and four other junior doctors, who were on duty on the date of the incident on August 9, to the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's court at Sealdah in north Kolkata, for seeking its permission to conduct the lie detection test on them, they said.

The test can only be done after permission from the court and the consent of the suspect, the officials said. An in-camera closed-door hearing on the matter took place before the ACJM this evening. PTI

On a call by the Supreme Court, doctors of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, Indira Gandhi Hospital and several other hospitals on Thursday ended their strike in protest against the rape and murder at a Kolkata hospital.

The Resident Doctors Association of Indira Gandhi Hospital has officially called off its 11-day strike in protest against the rape and murder at RG Kar Medical Hospital.

The decision to end the strike came on Thursday after the Supreme Court appealed to the medical fraternity to return to work The strike, which had garnered attention, disrupted medical services and highlighted the doctors' demand for justice and safety in the healthcare environment. ANI

The psychoanalytic profile of the arrested accused in the rape and murder of the woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sanjay Roy, indicated that he was a pervert and severely addicted to pornography, a CBI officer said on Thursday.

Quoting the doctors from New Delhi's Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), the officer also said that the civic volunteer of the Kolkata Police has an "animal-like instinct".

The body of the post-graduate trainee was found in the seminar room of the hospital on August 9. The civic volunteer was arrested the next day in this connection.

"The man showed no repentance and narrated the entire episode giving every minute detail without hiccups. It appeared that he had no remorse," the official of the central probe agency told PTI on Thursday, the news agency PTI. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has produced former RG Kar Hospital Principal Sandip Ghosh in Sealdah court, alongside four doctors who were with the trainee doctor allegedly raped and murdered on August 9. The CBI plans to conduct polygraph tests on them, following court approval, citing the need for thorough investigation due to potential conspiracy related to renovation work near the incident site. 

Hours after meeting the parents of the woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose sent a confidential letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee but it was not received by the CMO, an official in the Raj Bhavan claimed on Thursday. There was, however, no confirmation regarding this development from the state government, the news agency PTI said. 

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked the West Bengal government why a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed a year after allegations of financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital first emerged.

Former deputy superintendent of the state-run medical college hospital Akhtar Ali moved the court seeking an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against its ex-principal Sandip Ghosh over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure there.

Hearing the petition, Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, who is presiding over the case, asked why the SIT was constituted a year after the allegations came to light. The matter will be heard again on Friday, the court said, the news agency PTI reported. 

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of Delhi AIIMS on Thursday called off their strike 11 days after the Supreme Court asked healthcare workers to resume their duties. The apex court also urged the Centre to provide security to all health professionals across the country. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the Supreme Court for taking cognizance of the RG Kar Medical College incident and addressing the broader issue of safety and security for healthcare workers across the country,” the RDA said.

In a demonstration of solidarity with the rape and murder victim from West Bengal, the state committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Himachal Pradesh, alongside hospital workers, staged a silent protest outside Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), the news agency PTI said.  

Scuffles broke out on Thursday between police personnel and BJP supporters during a march in the eastern fringes of the city to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month.

The BJP's march to 'Swasthya Bhawan', the headquarters of the state health department in Salt Lake, began from Hudco crossing, around five km away, the news agency PTI reported. 

The state BJP had announced its leaders will gherao 'Swasthya Bhawan'. During the rally led by its state president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari tried to break police barricades set up at several places on the route while marching to the state health department.

The police initially tried to pacify the supporters but later chased them with lathis to disperse them.

BJP leaders, including LoP Suvendu Adhikari and MLA Agnimitra Paul, and workers stage a protest against the incident of rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The police later detained them, the news portal ANI said.  

"Supreme Court has taken cognisance of this incident and given the case for inquiry. People of West Bengal have little hope. Although, the evidence has been destroyed, we have hope that the culprit will be caught," says BJP leader Roopa Ganguly.

The Supreme Court has posted hearing of a suo motu case on September 5, and ordered re-sealing of status reports of the CBI, West Bengal state government.

The IMA on Thursday decided it will file an interlocutory application to intervene in the Supreme Court's suo motu case on the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor in a state-run hospital in Kolkata.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) headquarters is also preparing the documents to appear before the task force formed by the court to formulate a protocol for ensuring safety and security of healthcare professionals.

The alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor in the seminar hall of the West Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital triggered nationwide protests that have affected non-emergency services in several health facilities.

While pronouncing the order, the Supreme Court said, "The investigation is being conducted by CBI, Kolkata police is looking into the vandalism after the protest at the site...From the material produced before the court, the request for polygraph test has been submitted....

During the course of the hearing, number of counsels have appeared representing resident doctors among others...In the previous order, by constituting national task force, this court has said the NTF should engage with diverse stakeholders.

There are demands for installation of distress call system, regulation of duty hours...constitution of compensation fund..It is undoubted that the views of diverse stakeholders be taken by the task force....

The court has not conjungted the state from exercising lawful powers which are in interest with law. Peaceful protest will not be disrupted and state shall not take against those who are peacefully protesting."

The Supreme Court ordered West Bengal government to not take action against those peacefully protesting against the rape and murder of junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

CJI asks Kapil Sabil,  "What is the reason ? Why the FIR is lodged after 14 hours after the incident. The principal of the college should have come to the college and directed filing of FIR. Who was he in touch with? The moment he tendered resignation, he is assigned as the principal of another college."

The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud resumes hearing the case of alleged rape and murder of junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata.

The Supreme Court bench has gone for lunch break. Justice Burjor Pardiwala asked Kolkata Police regarding the registration of case and postmortem timing, "The Criminal Code of Procedure does not prescribe...entire procedure followed by police is something I have not come across in 30 years...Is it true that postmortem preceded the registration of UD case."

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for West Bengal government tells SC, "If any protest is done, then they must tell us, which route must followed. They carry flag and once the flag is removed there is a stick. There is a Standard Operating Procedure which has to be followed...Now its collateral event..its unrelated to what happened."

CJI reads out case diary and says it is very clear"...It shows that the UD case is registered after he returns to the police station..."

SC directs Kolkata Police officer, who registered first entry about rape-murder incident, to appear on next hearing to disclose time.

PTI

The Supreme Court bench asks West Bengal government regarding the time of filing FIR after the death of the 31-year-old junior doctor. SC asks senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for West Bengal government, 'If its not a case of unnatural death, then why was it taken for postmortem...Postmortem starts at 18: 10 and ends at 19:10, what was the idea in registering in UD (unnatural death case) at 23:30 hour..UD case was registered at Thala police station at 23:30 hour and FIR was registered at 23:40 hour...Its very surprising postmortem precedes registration of UD..If this is the fact then there is something dangerous.'

CJI asks senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for West Bengal government: "One aspect that is very disturbing in the entry with regard to the unnatural death is recorded at 10:10 pm. At 10:10 pm, the police station was informed that there was an unnatural death. notwithstanding all this, the securing of the crime scene...takes place at 11, 11:30 pm in the night."

Sibal says a minute by minute timeline backed by videography has been given. 

The Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud goes through the status report filed by the CBI on the ongoing probe.

"Heart goes out to those who have to go to the hospitals", says CJI

• SC asks how will public health infrastructure run if doctors do not work.
• SC asks protesting doctors to first return to work, assures counsel for AIIMS Nagpur there will be no adverse action once they rejoin.
• Resident doctors at AIIMS Nagpur tell SC they are being victimised for protests

With PTI inputs

"We have specifically said committees shall engage with whole stakeholders. Please assure the resident doctors that they will heard by.....The primary concerns of doctors, paramedical staff needs to be taken by the committee...There are women senior doctors in the committee. They will hear interns, residents, senior doctors, paramedicals," CJI Chandrachud said on doctors who are on strike.

"Poor people who come to these organisations cannot be left behind in the lurch. There are people who take appointments two years before the date and suddenly you are told you cannot be attended to. Let them all resume work," CJI Chandrachud said while hearing the notice on PGI Chandigarh doctors.

The Supreme Court has urged doctors, who are on strike, to return back to work and ensured that no adverse action will be taken against them.

Here's what the Supreme Court said during the last hearing on Tuesday:

• The court raised questions over the Kolkata police’s actions, asking why the body was handed late to the parents and how vandals were allowed to enter the hospital.
• “We are unable to comprehend how the state was not able to handle the issue of vandalism at the hospital”, the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud reiterated.
• “It appears crime was detected in early hours, medical college principal tried to pass it off as suicide,” the bench also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed.
• The top court also said the power of the West Bengal government should not be unleashed on protestors as its time of national catharsis.
• The court questioned the appointment of R G Kar’s principal to another college, while his conduct was still under scrutiny.
• The court also expressed concern over the fact that the identity of the victim, her name and photos, have been revealed publicly.

Hello and welcome to Kolkata doctor rape-murder case live blog! The Supreme Court will resume hearing the suo-motu case against the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital at Kolkata. The CBI, investigating the probe has been asked to file a status report today before the apex court. The rape and murder case triggered widespread protests in Kolkata and different parts of the country, with doctors especially urging for justice and safe space for women to work in the medical field. Stay tuned here as we bring you latest updates from the Supreme Court hearing.