The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the case of a trainee postgraduate doctor who was found raped and murdered in Kolkata on August 9th. The hearing will be presided over by a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra. The court took suo moto cognisance of the case on August 22nd following initial hearings.
The case has taken a dramatic turn with allegations of bribery and negligence levelled against the Kolkata police by the victim’s parents. The central government has also filed an application accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of being uncooperative in assisting the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which has been deployed to provide security at the RG Kar hospital.
Amidst allegations of financial irregularities at the State-run RG Kar Medical College, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted simultaneous search operations at the residences of the former principal, Sandip Ghosh, and three of his associates.
The victim’s mother has expressed her anguish, stating, “Whenever I think about the torment, the pain experienced by my daughter on that night, I shudder. She had dreams to serve the society. Now, all these protesters are all my children.”
The West Bengal Governor, CV Ananda Bose, has directed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the people’s demand for justice for the deceased doctor. The situation has led to three “Reclaim the Night” protests in Kolkata, with citizens demanding justice and accountability.
The Supreme Court hearing is expected to be crucial in determining the course of the investigation and providing justice for the victim and her family. The allegations of corruption and negligence against the West Bengal government will also be scrutinized during the proceedings.
