On August 22, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Supreme Court that significant changes were made to the investigation in the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case after the CBI took over the probe on the fifth day.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, revealed that the FIR was only registered at 11:45 pm after the body had been cremated, and videography of the scene was conducted only after pressure from the victim’s senior doctors and colleagues. The CBI also alleged that the state police initially suggested the death was a suicide before later changing their stance to murder.
The Supreme Court has directed the Kolkata Police officer who first recorded the case details to appear in court at the next hearing to explain the timeline of events.
In response, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, argued that all procedures were properly documented and not altered. The court expressed concerns about the timing of the crime scene documentation and seizures, noting a discrepancy between the recorded entry of unnatural death and the actual securing of the scene.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is overseeing the case, which involves the rape and murder of a postgraduate medical student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. On August 20, the Supreme Court also established a 10-member National Task Force to develop safety protocols for healthcare professionals.
The victim’s body, showing severe injury marks, was discovered on August 9. The Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer the following day. The Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI on August 13, and the CBI began its investigation the next day.
