R.G. Kar Case: CBI Calls Seven Nurses for Questioning

Synopsis

The CBI has summoned seven nursing staff for questioning in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case, as the investigation continues amidst challenges. This move follows a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the Calcutta High Court to hear related petitions from the victim's parents, who have faced challenges in obtaining justice.

Key Takeaways

Seven nursing staff have been summoned for interrogation.
The summons is linked to the investigation of the R.G. Kar rape and murder case.
Victim’s parents received the death certificate after seven months.
Significant developments in the Calcutta High Court proceedings.
The CBI plans to file a supplementary charge sheet.

Kolkata, March 20 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials looking into the R.G. Kar rape and murder case have summoned seven nursing staff who were on duty during the night of the incident in the ward from which the victim's body was discovered on the morning of August 9 last year.

According to sources, notices were issued to these seven nursing staff on Thursday, instructing them to report to the CBI’s central government office (CGO) complex in Salt Lake, located in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, as soon as possible, preferably by this afternoon.

This development is particularly important since the Supreme Court has recently permitted the Calcutta High Court to conduct hearings on a petition from the victim's parents, who have raised concerns about the progress of the Central agency’s investigation up to this point.

Initially, the Calcutta High Court was reluctant to hear the matter since it was under consideration at the apex court. However, with the apex court's endorsement, concurrent hearings can now proceed at both the apex court and the Calcutta High Court, in addition to the ongoing proceedings at a special court in Kolkata.

Moreover, the summons to the seven nursing staff was issued just one day after the victim’s parents finally obtained their deceased daughter’s death certificate, having faced numerous obstacles for the past seven months.

The state health secretary, Narayan Swarup Nigam, personally delivered the death certificate to the parents at their home.

This development is noteworthy as the CBI has previously committed to submitting a supplementary charge sheet in the special court in Kolkata, which will emphasize the issue of evidence tampering during the initial investigation conducted by the Kolkata Police before the case was transferred to the CBI on the orders of the Calcutta High Court.

The victim’s parents have consistently expressed their frustration that the doctors and nursing staff present that night were not interrogated by the Central agency officials.

To summarize, the CBI had previously arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, and Abhijit Mondal, the former SHO of Tala Police Station, on charges of tampering with evidence.

However, both individuals were granted default bail as the CBI failed to file a supplementary charge sheet against them within the mandated 90-day period following their arrests.

The special court has already sentenced Sanjay Roy, the sole convict in the rape and murder case, to life imprisonment. Nevertheless, the CBI has challenged this ruling in the Calcutta High Court, advocating for the death penalty for Roy.