On August 20, the Supreme Court of India delivered a strong critique of the Kolkata police and RG Kar Medical College's former principal, Sandeep Ghosh, regarding the case of a female doctor who was raped and murdered at the hospital on August 9. The Court, taking suo motu cognizance of the case, expressed grave concerns over the handling of the incident and subsequent events.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud criticized the delay in filing the FIR and questioned why the RG Kar Medical College authorities did not immediately report the crime. He pointed out that the FIR was registered at 11:45 AM, several hours after the incident was discovered, and questioned the role of the college authorities and principal in this delay. The Chief Justice was also alarmed by the fact that Sandeep Ghosh, who resigned amid the scandal, was later reassigned to another hospital, raising concerns about accountability.
The Supreme Court also expressed frustration over the police's handling of the case, especially their failure to prevent or respond effectively to the vandalism that occurred during protests at the hospital. The Court noted the severity of the situation and demanded answers regarding the police's actions and the damage caused during the unrest.
In response, the Court has instructed the CBI to submit a status report on the investigation by August 22 and has also required the West Bengal government to provide a report on the vandalism incident. This case, which has sparked widespread outrage, continues to be closely monitored by the Supreme Court as the investigation unfolds.
