Supreme Court Questions West Bengal Police Over Delayed Actions in Doctor's Murder Case

The Supreme Court questioned the West Bengal police on delays in filing an FIR and handling the doctor's murder case at RG Kar Medical College. The court highlighted safety concerns for medical professionals and directed protective measures, urging doctors to resume duties nationwide.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday interrogated West Bengal police regarding several procedural lapses, including the delayed filing of a First Information Report (FIR) and the delay in handing over the body to the deceased's family. The focus was on the police's inability to protect women and medical professionals during a mob attack at RG Kar Medical College.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, led the questioning. They took suo motu cognizance of the rape and murder of a doctor at the State-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The bench expressed grave concerns about the safety of doctors in India, establishing a national task force to address these issues. The court emphasized the importance of providing a secure work environment for female professionals.

The Court also cast doubt on the college principal's attempt to label the incident as a suicide and criticized the delay in filing the FIR, which they deemed a clear case of murder. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal confirmed that the inquest pointed to murder. The body was handed over for cremation at 8:30 pm, but the FIR was only registered at 11:45 pm, indicating a significant delay. Senior Advocate Aprajita Singh highlighted the troubling fact that police fled and hid during the mob attack, leading many doctors to abandon the hospital. The Supreme Court called for enhanced security measures, including CISF deployment, and urged medical professionals to resume their duties.