Calcutta High Court Orders CBI Probe into Trainee Doctor's Murder at RG Kar Medical College

The Calcutta High Court mandates a CBI investigation into the sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. The Court instructed Kolkata Police to promptly transfer all documents to the CBI. Protests erupted nationwide as doctors demanded justice and stricter safety measures.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which occurred on August 9. The Court mandated the Kolkata Police to transfer all relevant documents to the CBI without delay.

A protesting doctor expressed relief over the decision, stating, "We are very happy and relieved that the case has been transferred to CBI. The accused will be arrested soon now..." Earlier in the day, doctors and medical students staged a protest at AIIMS Delhi following the Federation of All India Medical Association's (FAIMA) call for a nationwide shutdown of OPD services in solidarity against the incident.

Previously, the Calcutta High Court had instructed the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, to file a leave application. This directive followed his appointment as principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, which triggered protests after his resignation from RG Kar College. Ghosh stepped down citing defamation on social media platforms due to the rape and murder of the trainee doctor.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice's division bench reviewed multiple PILs related to the case. The Chief Justice questioned the new appointment of the former principal, stating, "How can the principal - who resigned by taking moral responsibility, be appointed as the principal of another government college?" The court directed Ghosh to submit a leave application by 3 pm or face an order for removal from his position.

In the meantime, Union Health Minister JP Nadda convened a meeting with a delegation of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Tuesday. The IMA called for an impartial and thorough investigation into the case and demanded stringent punishment for the perpetrators from the West Bengal government. IMA also urged a detailed inquiry into the conditions that allowed the crime and measures to improve the safety of doctors, particularly women, at their workplaces.

(With inputs from agencies.)