RG Kar Doctor Death: Calcutta HC Transfers Probe To CBI, Says Principal's Conduct Raises 'Suspicion'

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, ordered the West Bengal police to hand over the investigation into the brutal murder and rape of the doctor in RG Kar Medical College to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The high court observed that five days have passed and no significant development has taken place in the course of investigation

Source : Getty

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, ordered the West Bengal police to hand over the investigation into the brutal murder and rape of the doctor in RG Kar Medical College to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The high court observed that five days have passed and no significant development has taken place in the course of investigation.

The court said that without significant progress in the investigation, it would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim’s parents that evidence would be destroyed. 

The court took exception to the new appointment of the principal to another medical college within 12 hours and said that it is disheartening to know that the principal was not pro-active. The high court further observed that the principal's conduct of not immediately filing a complaint raises suspicion.

"It is disturbing and surprising that principal did not raise a formal complaint of the incident," the bench observed.

The high court further observed that another distrubing factor is that a case of unnatural death was registered.

"It is submitted that such cases are registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint. This gives rise to suspicion," the high court observed while dictating order.

Calcutta HC Asks West Bengal Govt 'What Was Tiring Hurry To Appoint Principal In Another College'

The high court bench of  Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya observed that the state government neither accepted nor refused the resignation submitted by the Principal. And on top of that he was given a new appointment which the court said tantamounts to premium.

"Instead of relieving him, he was appointed as head of another college. It is not clear what tearing hurry was there to appoint him again," the bench observed while dictating order.

The court noted that the parents of the victim have an apprehension that if the investigation is allowed to continue in this manner, it will derail. Citing previous Supreme Court verdicts, the high court said this is an extraordinary and peculiar case.

"Under normal circumstances we would have called for a report. But the case is peculiar. And the facts warrant appropriate orders without loss of time. The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement," the high court observed. 

Calcutta HC Appeals To Doctors To End Agitation

The high court further appealed to the protesting doctors hold discussions with the state and consider calling off their agitation to help the public.

"We are appreciative of the feelings of the doctors, particularly at RG Kar medical college. However, we wish to observe that there is a pious obligation on them to treat patients who come to govt facilities from humble backgrounds," the bench said.

The matter is next listed after three weeks.