The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a fresh status report into the investigation into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital.
This came after the CBI submitted an initial report indicating it had leads in the probe and flagged the forensic report in the case and said “who collected the samples” has emerged as a relevant question.
Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, said, “Status report has been filed by CBI, it appears that investigation is in progress, we direct the CBI to file fresh status report on so and so…we will take it up on Tuesday, lets see what happens now and…CBI is doing it, we don’t want to guide CBI on its investigation.”
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The court also sought clarification on the timing of the unnatural death report in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, following the submission of the CBI status report, Live Law reported.
Appearing for the CBI, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta said the central agency had decided to send samples to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi.
“We have forensic examination report and one thing is admitted that when the girl was found at 9:30 am, her jeans and undergarments were removed and lying nearby… semi-nude and injury marks also on body… they have taken samples. they have sent to CFSL in West Bengal. CBI has taken a decision to send the sample to AIIMS and some other lab,” he said.
Supreme Court flags autopsy report
The Supreme Court posed tough questions to the West Bengal government on Monday, asking how the autopsy of a trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, was conducted without a formal request. This came after a three-judge bench directed the CBI to file a fresh status report on the investigation into the case.
CJI Chandrachud asked, “Where is the challan of the body when it’s handed over for post-mortem?” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, informed the bench that the challan was not part of their records. “It’s crucial because this column contains what other material was sent along with the body,” he said.
He added that, in the absence of the challan, the post-mortem doctor cannot accept the body. The CBI also did not have the challan. “How was the post-mortem carried out in the absence of a formal request?” the Chief Justice asked.
A 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and killed inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata on August 9. A civil volunteer was arrested for the crime, and the incident has sparked nationwide protests, which are still ongoing.
On August 22, the court reprimanded the Kolkata Police for the delay in registering the unnatural death case. The investigation of the case was transferred from the Kolkata Police to the CBI on the direction of the Calcutta High Court.