CBI Questions Ex-Kolkata Police Chiefs Over Evidence Tampering in Doctor's Rape-Murder
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday questioned two former Deputy Commissioners of Kolkata Police as part of its probe into allegations of evidence destruction and attempts to shield the real culprits in the R.G. Kar Hospital rape-murder case, a senior official said.
The official added that former Kolkata Police commissioner Vineet Goyal has been asked to appear before investigators next week. In May, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had suspended three senior IPS officers for alleged mishandling and dereliction of duty during the initial investigation.
On Friday, the federal agency questioned Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta, former Deputy Commissioners of the central and north regions, for several hours and collected documents from them. “The role of the three suspended IPS officers is now under the scanner. Our officers are trying to determine whether there was any effort to suppress evidence or protect other possible accused,” a senior CBI officer told PTI.
“A detailed probe is underway to establish the sequence of events from the night of the crime till the cremation of the victim. Every decision taken during that period is under review,” he added. Appropriate action will be taken if any lapses, suppression of evidence, or attempts to derail the investigation are detected.
The CBI has already questioned former MLA Nirmal Ghosh and the officer in charge of the crematorium where the victim's last rites were performed. Investigators sought details about the circumstances surrounding the cremation. Crematorium authorities said the body was cremated with the consent of her parents.
The victim, a postgraduate trainee doctor, was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital during a night shift on August 8, 2024. Kolkata Police initially arrested civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, who was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court after the CBI took over the probe following a Calcutta High Court order.
However, the victim’s parents maintain that more individuals were involved and that the full conspiracy has not been uncovered. After a change of government in West Bengal, the case was reopened for fresh examination, leading to the suspension of Goyal, Mukherjee, and Gupta. The CBI is also examining whether senior political functionaries issued instructions to the suspended officers through phone calls or messages at the time.
