The tragic murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has sent shockwaves through India and sparked widespread protests. The case has drawn parallels to the infamous gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old student in Delhi in 2012, raising concerns about the safety of women in India and the effectiveness of the justice system.
The victim, a 31-year-old doctor, was found dead on Friday, having been raped and murdered. A police volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime. A doctor’s inquest report revealed gruesome injuries, including bleeding from the eyes and mouth, and wounds on her legs, stomach, ankles, right hand, and finger.
The lawyer representing one of the petitioners seeking a CBI investigation into the case, Firoz Eduljee, has expressed deep skepticism that the case will see justice served. Drawing on his experience as a defense lawyer in the Kamduni rape and murder case, which saw several accused acquitted, Eduljee predicted that the current case will likely follow a similar trajectory. He pointed to the fact that the current Calcutta police commissioner, Vineet Goyal, who was then IG (CID), led the investigation in the Kamduni case, which Eduljee claims was mishandled, leading to the acquittals.
The Calcutta High Court, taking into account the concerns raised by Eduljee and the public outcry, has ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into the doctor’s murder. This decision comes amid growing calls for stronger legal protections and improved safety for women in India. The tragic events highlight the systemic issues that continue to plague the country, and the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability in cases of violence against women.
