Kolkata Rape-Murder: Bengal Doctors Say Will Continue Protest Despite Top Court's Appeal

Kolkata Rape and Murder Updates: The Supreme Court resumed hearing pleas at around 10:30 am today, in connection with the rape and murder case, of the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was found dead at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Furthermore, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also submitted its status report on the case after the apex court's order on August 20. As per reports, this report will be presented to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in a sealed cover. The top court criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for mishandling the case and also asked it to submit a report on the mob that vandalised the hospital while an investigation was underway.

Here are the latest updates on the Kolkata Rape-Murder case:

• Bengal doctors to continue strike despite appeal from Supreme Court 

Doctors in West Bengal will continue their strike against the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front has opted to maintain their protest, unlike their counterparts at AIIMS Delhi, who ended their strike following a Supreme Court appeal. The Supreme Court had promised that "no harsh measures" would be taken against the protesting doctors. 

• YouTubers and social media influencers protest in Kolkata

YouTubers and social media influencers protest in Kolkata against the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata.

• Doctors demanding SC to listen to their grievances

On Supreme Court's observation over the Doctor's protest, a junior doctor at AIIMS Nagpur, Shivangi Singh says, "Doctors are demanding just one thing that the SC listen to our grievances and bring some ruling for us, they have formed the national task force. Things have started and we hope that everything will be fine. The beginning was not good, but the end must be good. We thank the SC. It's a problem for the entire India as junior doctors are the backbone of the hospitals and if they will sit on the protest, it will create problems for the patients. But, our intention was not to create any problem, SC has heard our voice and it'll have good results..." 

• FAIMA calls of strike after directions from CJI 

Faima has decided to call off the strike following positive directions from the Chief Justice of India. We welcome the acceptance of our prayers for interim protections & the necessary steps to enhance security in hospitals.

• CBI takes Sandip Ghosh to Court

The central probing agency has taken RG Kar Hospital former principal Sandip Ghosh and other doctors to the court.

• BJP's massive protest against TMC Govt

The BJP on Thursday launched a massive protest against the TMC government amid row over the Kolkata rape and murder case.   

• Bengal BJP stages massive protest in Kolkata Horror. 

• The hearing resumes after the lunch break
• The Supreme Court will resume hearing after the lunch break at around 2 pm. 
• Postmortem Precedes Registration of Unnatural Death: SC Raps Kolkata Police

CJI Chandrachud questioned the Bengal police over the timing of the postmortem conducted, to which  Senior Advocate Sibal replied it was around  6:10-7:10 PM. "However,  further asked when did the officials took the dead body for post mortem then was it a case of unnatural death or not and if it was not unnatural death then what was the need for post-mortem," ANI tweet reads.

The senior advocate Sibal informed the top court that the case of the unnatural death was registered at 1:45 pm, meaning that the postmortem precedes registration of the unnatural death.

• Top Court Asks For Victim's Medical Injury Report

The bench asked for the medical injury report of the deceased doctor. However, the West Bengal government claimed that it is part of the case diary.

• The CBI in its status report submitted to SC in the Kolkata rape and murder case, claimed that the crime scene was alerted and the victim's family was misled with the suicide claim. 
• 'No Adverse Action', Assures CJI

CJI Chandrachud on Thursday urged protesting doctors to resume work and assured them that no adverse actions will be taken against them by the hospitals.

"Let them all return to work... we will pass some general order. Once doctors resume duties, we will prevail upon authorities to not take adverse actions. How will public administrative structure run if they don't resume work?"

"If there is difficulty after that, then come to us, but let them first report to work," the Supreme Court bench added.

The CJI further also assured the medical profession of getting heard by the SC-constituted National Task Force to recommend safety measures for healthcare professionals.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Association of Medical Associations of India (FAIMA) and Delhi Medical Association had filed interventions seeking the inclusion of resident doctors in the National Task Force.

• 'We Need Strong Laws...Not Just Empty Promises...': TMC's Abhishek Banerjee

TMC's Abhishek Banerjee in a tweet on X urged for strong laws that mandate trials and convictions within 50 days, followed by the severest punishments, not just empty promises following the Kolkata and other rape cases in the past few days.

"Over the past 10 days, while the nation has been protesting against the RG Kar Medical College incident and demanding justice, 900 rapes have occurred across different parts of India... Sadly, a lasting solution still remains largely undiscussed...We need strong laws that mandate trials and convictions within 50 days, followed by the severest punishments, not just empty promises. State governments must act and urgently push the Union for a comprehensive anti-rape law that ensures swift and strict justice. Anything less is merely symbolic and tragically ineffective."

• 'It is an Unequal Battle...': Amit Malviya

In a tweet posted on X, BJP's Amit Malviya said, "What is Mamata Banerjee trying to hide in the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape and murder case? 21 lawyers, led by former Congressman Kapil Sibal, are representing the Bengal Govt, which stands accused of ‘abuse of power.'"

He added, "Imagine: on the one side is an average middle class family living in the suburbs of Kolkata, whose daughter dreamt of becoming a doctor and serving the people, and on the other hand is a coalition of the corrupt and powerful. It is an unequal battle. But the people of West Bengal will triumph, no matter what."

• Sandip Ghosh reaches the CBI office for interrogation for the seventh consecutive day.
• 'Mamata Has Lost The Confidence of the People': CR Kesavan

Speaking on RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape case, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said,"...Mamata Banerjee has lost the confidence of the people of West Bengal and the country...I think she should immediately resign. Today, the CBI is going to submit a status report. Many truths are going to come out. But what stands out is the role of the police which both the High Court and the Supreme Court have heavily come down. The way the police have mishandled and misused the situation. Right from the beginning, the High Court had very clearly said before it transferred the case to the CBI that the West Bengal police didn't take statements on record. They didn't file an FIR..."
 

• 'She Continues to Be Brazen Rather Than Resign': BJP Slams Mamata

As Supreme Court is expected to hear the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case again today, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla launched a scathing attack at West Bengal CM saying, "... The case has shaken the conscience of the country, but unfortunately, it has not shaken the conscience of Mamata Banerjee. She continues to be brazen rather than resign. The institutional systematic cover-up done by the West Bengal government and police has been exposed by the Supreme Court. The High Court and even the parents of students have spoken about how Mamata Banerjee's government is not in the interest of getting justice for the victim, but she is hell-bent on 'balatkari bachao, saboot mitao, sach chhupao'."

"The Kolkata Police, instead of taking action against TMC Ministers who are speaking ill against the protesting doctors, are taking action against civilians and doctors. Now Kunal Ghosh has compared this incident to Pulwama. What is he trying to imply and why is he trivialising this issue? TMC has no sensitivity about this case and their only attempt is to save the accused..." he added.

• Security Beefed up Outside Premises of RG Kar College

In the latest visuals shared by news agency ANI, heavy security has been put up outside the premises of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday.

This comes as a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) team visited the hospital yesterday on the instructions of the Supreme Court.

• CBI and Kolkata Police have filed status reports to SC
• Prime Accused Sanjay Roy Narrates Scene, CBI Suspects Statement as 'Scripted'

In the latest developments in the Kolkata rape and murder case, after the psychological test, prime accused Sanjay ROy narrated the whole scenario. However, the CBI suspects the story to be 'scripted.'

• Doctors in Rajasthan Resume Duties After State Orders Safety Committee to be Formed in Colleges

Resident doctors across Rajasthan resumed their duties in emergency wards and ICUs on Thursday, a day after the state government ordered all medical colleges to form committees to enhance safety in their attached hospitals.

• 'No One Can Throttle My Voice,' TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy Exclusive With Arnab

TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy in an exclusive conversation with Republic Media said that he was threatened to remove a tweet after he raised his voice against the Kolkata rape and murder case, adding the crime has shaken his conscience. "

"But no power on this earth can throttle my voice or dissect me from the path of truth and justice. Nobody can separate me from the people of the society who are protesting against this heinous crime. All the culprits must be nabbed and persons in the authority making a show of things should be interrogated," he said.

• West Bengal Removes 3 RG Kar Hospital Officials Amidst Doctor Protests

On Wednesday, the West Bengal government removed three senior officials from RG Kar hospital in response to protests by junior doctors over the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee. According to State Health Secretary NS Nigam, former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh was also removed from his new position at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.

The officials from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) were reassigned to various state-run health facilities.

As per the order issued Wednesday evening, Prof. (Dr.) Bulbul Mukhopadhyay, the Medical Superintendent and Vice Principal of RG Kar Hospital, was replaced by Saptarshi Chatterjee with immediate effect.

Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay has been appointed as the new principal of RGKMCH, succeeding Suhrita Paul, who has been moved to the Barasat Government Medical College and Hospital. 

• 'My Daughter was Cremated in Hurry': Victim's Father

Amid the ongoing massive protest in the rape and murder case, the victim's father has expressed dissatisfaction with the West Bengal government's handling of the case and also claimed that his daughter's body was cremated in haste.

"There were three bodies at the crematorium, but our daughter's body was cremated first. The Chief Minister is talking about providing justice, but attempts are being…not satisfied with Mamata Banerjee and have refused to take any compensation," he stated.

• Bengal Guv Ananda Bose Meets Victim's Family

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose paid a visit to the family of the victim who was found brutally murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

He said, "Based on the information that I have, I will write a letter today and send it to the Chief Minister in a sealed cover."

• Prof Manas Kumar Bandopadhyay Appointed as New RG Kar Hospital Principal:

Following weeks of protest by junior doctors at the RG Kar Hospital, the West Bengal government on Wednesday evening removed the newly appointed principal Suhrita Paul.

Professor Manas Kumar Bandopadhyay has been appointed the principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

• Supreme Court to Hear Plea Today for the 2nd Time:

The top court will be hearing a plea today at 10:30 am in the horrifying rape and murder case at RG Kar Hospital. The court first had an initial hearing on August 20. The court is expected to also review the report filed by CBI and will take action further accordingly.