RG Kar Case: CBI Rules Out Gangrape, Probes Alleged Cover-Up

Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday informed the Calcutta High Court that its investigation and expert medical opinion had led to the conclusion that the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was not a case of gangrape.

Appearing before Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, the Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) representing the CBI stated that the agency was now probing the alleged cover-up that followed the incident. The court was hearing a plea filed by the victim’s parents, who sought further investigation into the case. Earlier, the Supreme Court had advised them to approach the Calcutta High Court for redressal.

State Raises Legal Concerns Over Further Investigation

Senior counsel appearing for the state argued that while the government had no objections to the probe into the alleged cover-up, it questioned the legal validity of reopening an investigation that had already concluded. The trial had earlier resulted in the conviction of Sanjoy Roy, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the crime.

"Can a trial be revived? If it cannot be revived, how can the court order further investigation after the trial’s conclusion?" the state’s counsel asked, emphasizing the legal complexities of the matter.

Court Seeks CBI’s Investigation Details

In response, the court directed the CBI to submit a list of witnesses it had examined and the case diary it had received from the Kolkata police upon taking over the probe. When asked for a timeline for the ongoing investigation, the DSG informed the court that the agency could not commit to a specific timeframe due to the complexity of the case.

The court instructed the CBI to provide the requested reports to assess any roadblocks hindering the probe and determine the next course of action. The matter is expected to be reviewed further once the agency submits its findings.