Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Supreme Court Hearing Highlights: In a significant Supreme Court hearing led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Tuesday, a three-judge bench expressed profound concern over the “horrific” rape and murder of the trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Court has established a 10-member task force to develop strategies for ensuring the safety of doctors in their workplaces. It also instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation to deliver a status report by August 22. Additionally, the Court urged the West Bengal government to avoid suppressing protesters who are demonstrating against the attack.
The Supreme Court also strongly criticized the West Bengal government for the delay in filing the FIR, questioning why it was registered at 11:45 PM when the autopsy, which confirmed murder, had been conducted earlier. The Court also demanded an explanation for the three-hour gap and the failure of authorities to maintain order at the crime scene.
Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case Live Updates:
The Chief Justice questioned what was the principal doing. He said no FIR was filed, and the body was handed over to the parents only after a delay. He asked what actions did the police take? Furthermore, he noted that after the principal resigned, he was appointed as the principal at another college. He requested the CBI to submit a status report by Thursday and also provide an update on the progress of the investigation.
The Chief Justice argued that the crime was discovered in the early morning hours of the murder, with the principal initially suggesting it was a suicide and denying the parents access to the body. He criticized the lack of an FIR, which indicates a potential cover-up of murder. In contrast, Kapil Sibal argued that this account is inaccurate, stating that an inquest was conducted and an FIR was promptly registered. Sibal asserted that the inquest confirmed the case as murder and mentioned that the accused, a civic worker, has been apprehended.
The Chief Justice stated that the issue has transcended the specific case of rape in a hospital, addressing a broader, systemic problem regarding the safety of doctors nationwide. He emphasized that the focus is on all doctors, particularly interns, residents, and women doctors, who often work shifts of up to 36 hours. He stressed the need to develop a national protocol to guarantee safe working conditions for medical professionals.
The Chief Justice expressed that if women cannot safely go to work, it undermines their right to equality. He also highlighted serious concerns about the widespread media coverage of the victim, including her name, photographs, and videos, which is deeply troubling.
The Supereme Court has started the hearing in Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case. “If Your Lordships could specify the areas where assistance is needed, we would be happy to help.” The bench requests all intervenors to provide a written statement.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sent a directive to the heads of Central Government hospitals and institutes, including AIIMS and other INIs, calling for an increase in security measures across all central government healthcare facilities.
On Tuesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continued its probe into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The CBI has been authorized to administer a polygraph test on the detained suspect, according to earlier reports. On August 18, the CBI team carried out 3D laser mapping in the emergency ward of the hospital as part of their investigation. In a separate development on Monday, the West Bengal government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into allegations of financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, covering the period from January 2021 to the present.
Prominent arists from the Bengal music industry rallied on Monday to demand justice for the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. That evening, several artists, including actor Saheb Chatterjee and radio host Mir Afsar Ali, took to the streets to voice their outrage.
According to reports, the autopsy revealed crucial findings from the postmortem of the victim, detailing multiple severe injuries. The examination identified more than 14 wounds on the victim’s head, face, neck, arms, and genitals. The cause of death was determined to be “manual strangulation combined with smothering,” with the death classified as a homicide. The autopsy also uncovered evidence of sexual assault, including forceful penetration, and a “white, thick, viscid liquid” in the genital area.
Protesting doctors have been providing free outpatient services outside the Union Health Ministry, as the indefinite strike—sparked by the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata—shows no sign of resolution. Resident doctors’ associations are waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision to determine if the strikes will be called off.
Healthcare services across state-run hospitals in West Bengal faced significant disruptions as the strike by junior doctors entered its 12th day on Tuesday, PTI reported. The protest, against the alleged rape and murder of a female medic, has led to long patient queues at several government hospitals. Senior doctors and assistant professors have stepped in to manage outpatient departments. The incident in question involves a postgraduate trainee doctor who was reportedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The Supreme Court is set to hear plea in Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder case. The hearing will begin at 10:30 am. Stay with us as we will bring to you live updates from the hearing.
Since the news of Kolkata rape and murder case was out, people have been taking to streets to express their anger and fear. Multiple protests are being held across the country demanding justice and safety measures for the medical community as well as women in general. Here are a few pictures of the silent marches and protests that are happening in India
(Image: PTI)
(Image: PTI)
(Image: PTI)
The West Bengal government has established a special investigation team (SIT) to examine alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a postgraduate trainee doctor’s body was discovered earlier this month, as detailed in a recent notification. The four-member SIT will be led by Dr. Pranav Kumar, IG of the Swami Vivekananda State Police Academy. According to the notification issued by the West Bengal Home Department on August 16, the SIT is authorized to access any necessary documents from government bodies and private organizations to facilitate its investigation.
Former Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly recently updated his social media profile picture to black, aligning himself with the growing wave of users who have done the same in solidarity with the trainee doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital who was tragically raped and murdered. In response to ongoing protests demanding justice for the victim, a new online movement has emerged, encouraging people to change their display pictures (DPs) to black as a symbol of support and outrage.
The Trinamool Congress has called on the CBI to accelerate its inquiry into the rape and murder case of the female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Senior leader Kunal Ghosh told reporters that while the Kolkata Police were making progress, the case, now under the CBI’s jurisdiction following a Calcutta High Court order on August 13, needs a swift resolution, reported PTI. Ghosh emphasized the party’s firm demand for the death penalty for the perpetrators and an urgent resolution to the case.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the slow response to the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. Sarma emphasized that if such an incident occurred in Assam, justice would be promptly delivered.
The Health Ministry has directed a 25 percent increase in security measures at all central government hospitals in response to protests by resident doctors advocating for a national law after the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a Kolkata hospital. Officials announced that, in addition to standard security protocols, the deployment of marshals will be considered on a case-by-case basis following security assessments conducted by the individual hospitals.
Union Minister L. Murugan condemned the rape and murder of the trainee doctor in Kolkata, criticizing the West Bengal government for its inadequate response. In a statement to ANI on Monday, Murugan said that the West Bengal Chief Minister should have acted decisively against those responsible, but the government failed to do so. He added that as a result, the CBI had to step in, file the case, and begin its investigation.
TMC MP Sagarika Ghose shared details of the West Bengal government’s newly introduced “Rattirer Shaathi” protocol, which aims to enhance the safety of women workers on night shifts. She took to X and wrote, “My dear girl. My dear, dear girl, our ‘Tilottama’. May you rest in eternal peace. The monster Sanjay Roy who took your life will get the harshest punishment,” the TMC MP posted on X.
Kolkata police have so far issued notices to nearly 280 individuals for allegedly spreading “misinformation” or disclosing images or personal details of the victim, according to the Indian Express.
The notices target accounts from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The police have identified many of these accounts as fake or anonymous, accusing them of attempting to politicize the incident along communal lines.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose arrived in Delhi on Monday night, amid speculation that he may have meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and other senior officials. The trip comes in the wake of widespread protests and a nationwide doctors’ strike triggered by the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, along with claims of a mishandled investigation and potential cover-up. It is anticipated that he will meet with President Murmu on Tuesday.
As investigations and protests continue over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, Durga Devi, the mother-in-law of the accused Sanjoy Roy, has suggested that others may have been involved in the crime, asserting that Roy could not have acted alone. Speaking to ANI on Monday, Durga Devi recounted her daughter’s difficult experience with Roy, revealing that he had previously assaulted her daughter, prompting a police complaint.
The Delhi Medical Association on Monday asked the Supreme Court to join the suo motu case. The group, which represents over 15,000 doctors, is pushing for a committee led by a former Supreme Court judge to create a plan to protect doctors and healthcare staff from violence in hospitals and public health centers.
Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, is accused of raping and violently murdering the trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police the day after the doctor’s body was discovered in a seminar hall at the medical college. The arrest came just six hours after a seven-member Special Investigation Team was established to investigate the case.
The Maharashtra Resident Doctors Association, which has been spearheading an ongoing doctors’ strike since August 13, will determine whether to end their protest following today’s Supreme Court hearing. The strike has severely disrupted healthcare services in Mumbai.
In Kolkata, protests intensified as senior doctors Kunal Sarkar and Subarna Goswami, who had shared details about the incident on social media, went to the police station after leading a large demonstration of healthcare professionals from Calcutta Medical College to the Kolkata Police headquarters.
The ongoing strike by junior doctors has significantly disrupted healthcare services at state-run hospitals across West Bengal. As a result, there was a substantial increase in patient numbers at outpatient departments on Monday, with senior doctors stepping in to manage the situation and ensure continuity of care.
The CBI has been authorized to perform a polygraph test on the suspect arrested in the Kolkata rape and murder case, according to ANI report. On August 18, the CBI team investigating the case visited RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where they conducted a 3D laser mapping of the emergency ward. The brutal assault and murder of the trainee doctor have ignited significant outrage and protests nationwide, with demands for justice and severe penalties for those responsible.
A candlelight vigil was held at Shimla’s The Ridge at midnight on Monday. The silent march was held to seek justice for the Kolkata doctor who was murdered. Participants carried candles in a quiet, symbolic march, calling for the death penalty for the accused and aiming to highlight the need for greater safety and awareness in public spaces.
The Supreme Court is prioritizing the suo motu case today regarding the tragic rape and murder of the postgraduate medical student from Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud will head the bench as they take up the case at 10:30 am. Stay tuned with us for live updates on the matter.