Calcutta HC orders fresh CBI SIT probe into RG Kar rape-murder case
Synopsis
Despite a conviction and life sentence already in place, the Calcutta High Court has ordered a fresh CBI SIT probe into the RG Kar rape-murder case — led by a Joint Director-rank officer — after the victim's family accused the agency of merely rubber-stamping Kolkata Police's original findings. The order, passed on just the second hearing before a newly constituted bench, signals deep judicial unease with how the investigation was handled.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 21 May 2025 ordered a fresh probe into the RG Kar rape-murder case by a three-member CBI SIT .
The SIT will be headed by an officer of the rank of Joint Director of the CBI.
The victim, a junior doctor at R.G.
Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata , was found murdered on 9 August 2024 .
Convict Sanjay Roy , a former civic volunteer, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court; the CBI has separately sought the death penalty .
The victim's family alleged the CBI conducted a 'lackadaisical' probe and merely endorsed Kolkata Police's findings.
The next court hearing is scheduled for 24 June 2025 , when the CBI must submit a progress report.
A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 21 May 2025, directed a fresh investigation into the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder case by a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to be headed by an officer of the rank of Joint Director. The bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh passed the order after finding the victim's family's plea for a fresh probe justified.
Background of the Case
The body of the victim — a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata — was discovered inside a seminar room on the hospital premises on the morning of 9 August 2024. She had been subjected to a brutal rape and murder. The case triggered widespread protests across West Bengal and drew national attention to the safety of medical professionals.
An SIT of Kolkata Police initially took up the investigation and arrested the sole convict, Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer attached to the city police. The CBI subsequently took over the probe on a Calcutta High Court direction and also identified Roy as the sole accused. Roy was convicted by a trial court and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Why the Family Demanded a Fresh Probe
Despite the conviction, the victim's family remained unsatisfied with the quality of the CBI investigation. They approached the Calcutta High Court accusing the agency of conducting the probe in a 'lackadaisical manner' and of merely endorsing the findings of the original Kolkata Police investigation rather than conducting an independent inquiry. Their petition argued that critical aspects of the case had not been adequately examined.
The CBI itself had challenged the trial court's sentencing order before the High Court, seeking the death penalty for Roy — a separate proceeding that underscores the unresolved legal dimensions of the case.
Court Orders and Key Directives
Thursday's order came during only the second hearing before the new bench. The division bench directed the CBI to constitute a three-member SIT led by a Joint Director-rank officer to conduct the fresh investigation. The court also ordered the CBI to submit a progress report at the next date of hearing, scheduled for 24 June 2025.
Notably, the matter had earlier been heard by a bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay, which recently recused itself from the proceedings. The case was then referred to the current bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice Ghosh.
What Happens Next
The CBI now faces the task of assembling a senior SIT and relaunching an investigation into a case where a conviction has already been secured. Legal observers note that the parallel proceedings — the death penalty appeal and the fresh probe — make this one of the more complex criminal matters currently before the Calcutta High Court. The next hearing on 24 June 2025 will be closely watched for the SIT's initial findings and the progress report.
Point of View
Regardless of who is behind bars. The accusation that the CBI simply rubber-stamped Kolkata Police's findings, if borne out, would represent a serious failure of the federal investigative process. With a death penalty appeal running in parallel, the case now has two simultaneous legal tracks that could produce contradictory outcomes — a legally and politically combustible situation that the new bench will need to navigate carefully.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Calcutta High Court order in the RG Kar case on 21 May 2025?
The Calcutta High Court directed a fresh investigation into the RG Kar rape-murder case by a three-member CBI SIT, to be headed by a Joint Director-rank officer. The order was passed by the bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh after finding the victim's family's plea for a fresh probe justified.
Who is Sanjay Roy and what is his current legal status?
Sanjay Roy is a former civic volunteer attached to Kolkata Police who was arrested, tried, and convicted for the rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College. A trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment, and the CBI has separately challenged that order seeking the death penalty.
Why did the victim's family seek a fresh probe?
The family accused the CBI of conducting the investigation in a lackadaisical manner and of merely endorsing the findings of the initial Kolkata Police probe rather than conducting an independent inquiry. They argued that critical aspects of the case had not been adequately examined.
When is the next hearing in the RG Kar case?
The next hearing before the Calcutta High Court division bench is scheduled for 24 June 2025. The CBI has been directed to submit a progress report on the fresh SIT investigation at that hearing.
Why did the previous bench recuse itself from the RG Kar case?
The earlier division bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha and Justice Rai Chattopadhyay recused itself from hearing the matter without detailed reasons being specified in reports. The case was subsequently referred to the bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh.
