Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case Live: Highlights

Sister of accused Sanjay Roy says, "...I have not spoken to him in 17 years. Neither did he visit me nor did I visit him. I have not seen him in years. So, I am unable to say anything...My father was not ready for my match for marriage, he had told me that he would cut off all ties with me if I got married here. So, there were no relations after that...As a child, he was normal like all other children. I never saw anything odd...He was in the Police job (civic volunteer), so he sometimes had a day shift or sometimes a night shift. So, I never saw him...I never heard anything about hin that he got into a fight or anything...I don't know whether he has done anything. If he has indeed done something, I will accept any punishment given to him. It is very wrong if he has done this to a girl." (ANI)

BJP leader Roopa Ganguly says, "People are protesting across the country against the incident of rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital...This is a protest against the police force who tried to suppress the evidence...I welcome the decision of the Calcutta high court giving the CBI the task of investigating all the instances of irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital..."

On Calcutta high court giving CBI the task of investigating all the instances of irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay says, "I welcome this order...The SIT was formed to suppress all the scams committed by Sandip Ghosh and this was another episode of Mumta Banerjee to destroy all evidence.

On West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writing a letter to PM Modi, he says, "It is meaningless...She knows that she is the real culprit in this matter. She has destroyed every evidence. I demand that CBI should start questioning her. If she does not cooperate, she should be taken into custody." (ANI)

A delegation of junior doctors from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital reached CBI Special Crime Branch at CGO complex, Salt Lake to meet CBI officers

"...We have not been able to speak with him. The day the incident occurred, he called us but the students told us not to go. He came there (incident spot) but he did not speak with us," says the father of deceased doctor on former Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh

On Calcutta High Court's direction for CBI inquiry, he says, "CBI is one of the biggest agencies of the country. But they have not yielded a good result so far in the 10 days that they have take over the case. We demand that they take action at the earliest and there be strict punishment."

When asked if they will approach Supreme Court over RG Kar Medical College and Hospital irregularities, he says, "We will approach, if needed. We have not made any decision yet." (ANI)

Dr Saptarshi Chatterjee, Medical Superintendent cum vice president, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital says, "...We had a meeting with students, we had a meeting with all my teachers. We are discussing on the course how soon can we make RG Kar a better place because we are going to give service to a number of patients, number of their relatives..."

The CBI told the Supreme Court on Thursday that there was an attempt to cover up the rape and killing of the post-graduate medic by the local police as the crime scene was altered by the time the federal agency took over the probe.

On the 172nd birth anniversary of Dr Radha Gobinda Kar, founder of the Calcutta School of Medicine (now RG Kar Medical College and Hospital), his descendants expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in state-run healthcare. Partha Kar, a fourth-generation descendant, voiced frustration at the minimal improvements in facilities and security for doctors, stating, "I feel quite hopeless at the dearth of facilities our doctors continue to have at government hospitals."

The family, who still resides in Howrah where Kar was born, has been troubled by recent events, including the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital. They participated in the 'Reclaim the Night' protests, highlighting ongoing security issues. Partha Kar, who has alumni ties with RG Kar Medical College, supports the junior doctors' protests for better security, emphasising their valid concerns.

Radha Gobinda Kar, who founded the institution in 1886, aimed to improve medical education and services in India. His descendants believe that justice for the victim will only be achieved when all involved in the case, including those altering evidence, are held accountable.

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee says, "Sandip Ghosh knows a lot of things. Mamata Banerjee is doing a lot of politics around Sandip Ghosh. This shows that this is not a normal murder. It is a very big political rape and murder...CBI will bring out the truth after interrogating Sandip Ghosh...Sanjay Roy is a scapegoat a lot of people are involved in it...We want justice..."

Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri voiced strong emotions about the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Known for his outspoken views, Agnihotri joined the protest in West Bengal and called for substantial reforms.

During a press conference, he expressed frustration over the lack of national attention, drawing comparisons with the Nirbhaya case. Agnihotri highlighted Bengal’s historical significance, saying, "This is the land where Tagore wrote, 'Where the head is held high and the mind is free.'"

Criticising the current political and law enforcement systems, he accused political parties of fostering criminal activities, including sexual violence, for electoral gain. "In other states, electoral violence and sexual violence for political reasons have stopped, but it still continues in Bengal," he noted.

Agnihotri also emphasised the need for a social and political revolution in Bengal, urging the youth to "sow new seeds" of change. He lamented the poor law and order situation, questioning why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would protest against herself.

Agnihotri said, "We have to make Bengal great again if we want India to succeed."

The CBI, probing the rape-murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here, is concentrating on how the crime was executed without any hindrance in the facility's seminar hall where the door's tower bolt was found broken, an officer said. CBI officials are also trying to find out if someone was stationed outside the seminar hall to ensure that the crime went undisturbed, he said, adding that the investigators are analysing CCTV footage to confirm it.

The investigating officers wondered why nobody could hear any sound from inside the seminar hall when the victim was being tortured.

"The tower bolt was broken, which caused the door to malfunction. We are probing whether anyone was stationed outside to act as a guard while the crime was committed," a CBI officer told PTI.

Initial findings indicate that the door, due to the broken tower bolt, had been malfunctioning for some time. The victim entered the hall between 2 AM and 3 AM on August 9. A doctor on duty reported seeing her asleep inside the hall, the officer said.

"Interviews with doctors, interns, and junior doctors revealed that the door's malfunction had been a known issue, which prevented the victim from locking the door that night," he added.

On Friday, the agency continued questioning Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in connection with the case. Additionally, the CBI presented the arrested suspect, Sanjay Roy, in court, which sent him to 14-day jail custody.

The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered inside the seminar hall on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested the following day in connection with the crime.

The CBI took over the probe from Kolkata Police following a Calcutta High Court order on August 13.

BJP activists on Friday stormed Nandigram police station in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district during a gherao programme organised in protest against the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata. BJP supporters also staged gherao agitations at Chinsurah, Siuri, Midnapore and Bankura police stations.

Over 100 BJP supporters stormed Nandigram police station on Friday morning by breaking through barricades and scuffled with the policemen who made attempts in vain to stop them.

The protestors, of whom several were women, raised slogans inside the police station for some time, before exiting the premises.

A police officer said the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and policemen present at the spot did not take further action to prevent the situation from escalating.

The BJP activists also blocked the thoroughfare in front of the police station before dispersing.

The protest was organised as part of a statewide 'thana gherao' programme over the issue. (PTI)

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticised Mamata Banerjee over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, accusing her of manipulating evidence and displaying "ruthlessness." Poonawalla questioned the reinstatement of Sandeep Ghosh as an OSD, despite his controversial involvement, stating, "Her crocodile tears mean nothing; she is brazening it out." He further condemned the Bengal government's approach, saying, "Instead of providing justice, they are hiding the evidence."

Poonawalla also mentioned how Bengal's lawyer, Kapil Sibal, laughed in court, showing the government's insensitivity. He referenced the Supreme Court's rebuke of the Mamata Banerjee government for delays in the FIR, calling the situation unprecedented.

Meanwhile, BJP workers protested the incident, with LoP Suvendu Adhikari and MLA Agnimitra Paul among those detained. The CBI has sought permission from Kolkata high court for a polygraph test on Dr Sandip Ghosh and four doctors due to inconsistencies in their statements during the investigation. The test aims to corroborate their claims.

The Calcutta high court has assigned the CBI to investigate all irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, including the case involving former Deputy Superintendent Akhtar Ali. Since the CBI is already handling the main case concerning RG Kar, this investigation was transferred to them.

Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj instructed the SIT to hand over all investigation documents to the CBI by 10 am. tomorrow. The CBI is expected to update the court on the progress of the investigation in three weeks, with the report due on September 17. The court also advised Akhtar Ali to approach the CBI for security if needed.

Permission for polygraph test of former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh and 5 others granted by Sealdah Court. The 5 others include 4 doctors who had dinner with the deceased doctor and 1 civic volunteer.

CBI to probe corruption charges against former principal Sandip Ghosh: Reports

The Karnataka government on Friday suggested a slew of measures to be adopted to ensure the safety and security of doctors working in hospitals across the state. A meeting chaired by Minister for Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil discussed safety measures for doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Members of the doctors' association were asked to draft a document so that the Department of Medical Education can prepare a standard advisory.

After the recent rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata, which has shocked the entire nation, the safety profile for the working doctors has once again been reviewed, the Director of Medical Education Dr Shobha Rathod said. "On the instructions of our minister, we have held a meeting with all the directors of the government institutes and the super specialty hospitals to identify the gaps in the safety profile for our working doctors," she told PTI.

According to DME, there are 71 medical colleges including 22 government medical colleges under the Department of Medical Education. Apart from them, there are nursing and paramedical institutes in the state. During the meet, the department also reviewed the safety lapses. Following the Nirbhaya advisory, the department has been insisting that there are no dark corridors anywhere and all the places should be well lit, Rathod said adding that CCTV cameras should be installed in most of the areas.

"The security personnel are the ones who can walk anywhere with the consent in all the areas of the institute, so whether we have a good background check of all these people whom we take under security and housekeeping, that was one issue." All the institutes have the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committees, which can also suggest a precautionary measure so that if there is any such incident then an alert can be sounded.

Rathod said the POSH committees have been regularly conducting meeting to make sure that there are no incidents of harassment of women. The department is also using Artificial Intelligence for the safety of each doctor. Self-defence training of the doctors and counseling of medical professionals regarding their stress levels were also discussed, she explained.

"We are also encouraging pink boxes so that in case of unbiased complaints, the administration can look into it," Dr Rathod said. "Introducing of 'code white' system. - If there is something called a code white, which we have already seen, it being worked out in our Indian Institute of nephro-urology, that will make all of them alert, how quickly we can be alerted if there is an untoward incident which is happening," she added.

Indian students, charities, and diaspora groups in Britain have organized several events to demand justice following the rape and murder of a female doctor on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

Women's organizations held peace vigils at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in London’s Parliament Square and across other UK cities on Thursday, while the Students' Federation of India – United Kingdom (SFI-UK) led a march in Liverpool on Wednesday.

In London, hundreds gathered to light candles spelling out "Justice" and carried placards advocating for women's respect and empowerment.

In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors here returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike over the alleged rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata, following an appeal by the Supreme Court. Healthcare professionals across the country ceased work after the body of the medic, a junior doctor, was found in a seminar room of the West Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

CBI has obtained consent to conduct polygraph tests on Sandip Ghosh, ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and four of the victim’s colleagues.

The parents of the RG Kar trainee doctor, who was brutally raped and murdered, have again alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched to tamper with evidence in connection to their daughter’s death.“There is definitely a conspiracy to destroy evidence, which is why the real culprits are yet to be arrested,” the victim’s father said on Thursday.“We do not know the password or pattern to unlock my daughter’s phone. If the investigation agency manages to unlock it, significant clues can be obtained,” her mother said.

RG Kar Hospital and Medical college ex-Principal Sandip Ghosh arrives at CBI office for consecutive 8th day

Juniors doctors in Kolkata to protest at 12:00pm in-front of CBI office.

Prime accused Sanjay Roy CBI custody ends today.

RG Kar Medical College's ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and four colleagues of the junior doctor found raped and murdered on campus agreed Thursday to take polygraph tests, based on CBI's request for their legal consent to use this method for verification of statements made to the agency so far.

The Jaipur resident doctors have decided to call off the ongoing strike in support of the agitation against rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor. Dr Manohar Siyol, president of Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD), said a meeting held on Thursday evening decided to call off the strike following the Supreme Court's appeal during the hearing in the case.

A 52-year-old lawyer, is tackling her most challenging case in a 25-year career. The Sealdah court has appointed Kabita Sarkar to defend Sanjoy Roy, the accused in the RG Kar rape-murder case as no other lawyer was willing to take it.

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee wrote to PM Narendra Modi on Thursday, urging the setting up of specialised fast track courts to deal with rape cases and completion of trials within 15 days.Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also spoke on the same lines as he made a post on X on Thursday, demanding larger reforms for delivering swift justice to rape victims across India

Following a plea from the Supreme Court, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has "temporarily suspended" its strike related to the rape-murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata, with plans to reassess their stance in two weeks. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court made a heartfelt appeal to doctors nationwide, urging them to return to work.

The court emphasized that "justice and medicine" must continue and assured that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure their safety, directing that no punitive actions be taken against them.

Kabita Sarkar, a 52-year-old lawyer with 25 years of legal experience, is now facing the toughest case of her career. Sealdah court has appointed her to defend Sanjoy Roy, the accused in the RG Kar rape-murder case, as no other lawyer is willing to take it on. Sarkar, the sole standing lawyer for the State Legal Services Authority (SALSA) in Sealdah, plans to apply for the case documents on Friday when Roy is brought before the court.

Sainur Haque, a third-year student at Barasat College, was arrested on Tuesday night for allegedly threatening to bomb the city in protest over the rape and murder of a PGT doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Officers from the Hare Street police station apprehended Haque from his home in Sandalia, Shasan. The Bankshall Court on Wednesday placed him in police custody until August 28.

On Monday night, Haque reportedly sent an email to the Kolkata Police commissioner under the guise of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, warning that a bomb would explode in the city within 72 hours. Following the complaint filed at Hare Street police station, police traced the email to Haque's residence and confiscated his mobile phone and SIM card, which were used to send the threat.

The state health department has annulled the transfer order for former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh to Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC). Although no new posting has been assigned to Ghosh, the department has also not accepted his resignation from the medical education service. Ghosh had tendered his resignation on August 12, three days after a second-year PGT doctor was discovered raped and murdered during her night shift. His transfer to CNMC, which was enacted shortly after his resignation, sparked protests at CNMC and across the city

According to a CBI officer, former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh stated that on August 9, he was informed around 9:15 a.m. that an ASI had discovered the body. The Tala police station was alerted by 9:45 a.m., and a formal complaint was lodged at 10:10am. However, when the police team arrived at the hospital, Ghosh was not present.

The CBI on Thursday obtained consent to conduct polygraph tests on the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, along with four of the victim's colleagues. Investigators suspect there is more to Ghosh's statements over the past week. A key focus of the investigation is the 22-minute gap between two calls made to the victim’s family on August 9 — the first at 10:53 am reporting that she was unwell, and the second at 11:15am, stating she had died by suicide. The four colleagues, who were the last to see and interact with the victim the night before, will also undergo polygraph tests to help reconstruct her final hours

The Supreme Court raised concerns over the nearly 14-hour delay in filing an FIR after the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital on August 9. On Thursday, the court questioned the West Bengal government, asking why the hospital principal delayed reporting the incident to the police and why it took more than 12 hours to convert the unnatural death report into an FIR. The court also inquired why the crime scene was only secured in the evening.

The bench, led by CJI D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, raised suspicions that there may have been efforts to portray the incident as a suicide, possibly due to pressure on the former principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, to hold off on formally reporting the crime. Justice Pardiwala expressed shock at the procedure followed by Kolkata police, noting that in his 30-year legal career, he had never encountered such an approach in a rape and murder case.