Supreme Court Urges Depoliticization in Kolkata Doctor's Murder Case

The Supreme Court has advised political parties to avoid politicizing the rape and murder case of a woman doctor in Kolkata, while criticizing the delay in registration by Kolkata Police. Both the ruling TMC and opposition BJP have responded, with TMC welcoming the remarks and BJP alleging a state cover-up.

The ruling TMC on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court's remark not to politicize the rape-murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata and accused the CBI, which is currently probing the case, of presenting misleading facts.

The apex court instructed political parties to refrain from politicizing the tragic incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, emphasizing that ''law will take its course.'' The court called the Kolkata Police's delay in registering the unnatural death of the doctor ''extremely disturbing'' and urged protesting medics to resume work.

''We don't want to comment on what the Supreme Court has said as the matter is sub-judice. However, we welcome its observation asking political parties not to politicize the matter and directing protesting doctors to return to work. Some political parties are trying to politicize the incident, and the CBI is attempting to mislead the public with distorted facts,'' said TMC leader Kunal Ghosh.

The TMC leader also stated the state government will comply with the court's instructions. ''Political parties that have been trying to politicize the incident for their vested interests should now learn their lesson,'' he added.

The Supreme Court, addressing a suo motu case on the doctor's tragic death, emphasized ''justice and medicine cannot be stopped'' and directed the Centre and states to ensure the safety of medical professionals across the country.

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud issued several directives concerning the safety of doctors, norms for protests, and protesters' rights, along with instructions for the West Bengal government.

The opposition BJP, which has demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the incident, also welcomed the SC's observations. ''The West Bengal government and Kolkata Police have been trying to protect the culprits and conceal the truth from the beginning. They have also used brute force against protesters. The TMC government was exposed in the Supreme Court today,'' said Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari.

The brutal assault and murder of the junior doctor have ignited nationwide protests. The victim's body, found inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital's chest department on August 9, led to the arrest of a civic volunteer by the Kolkata Police the following day. On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe from Kolkata Police to the CBI, which began its investigation on August 14.