RG Kar case: Bengal minister demands Mamata Banerjee's arrest over conspiracy
Synopsis
A year after the RG Kar hospital rape-murder shook Bengal, the political fallout is escalating. BJP minister Agnimitra Paul has now publicly demanded the arrest of former CM Mamata Banerjee, drawing a direct line between those already in custody and the former Chief Minister — a demand that signals the case is far from closed, legally or politically.
Key Takeaways
BJP minister Agnimitra Paul on 14 August 2025 demanded the arrest of former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in the RG Kar rape-murder case .
Paul alleged Banerjee was complicit in a 'conspired and hurried cremation' of the victim and in suppressing the victim's family.
Former TMC Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh was arrested from Odisha and faced public outrage — including eggs and slaps — while being escorted to Barrackpore Court .
TMC councillor Somnath Dey , also allegedly involved in the cremation conspiracy, remains missing.
The victim's mother, Ratna Debnath , is now the BJP MLA from Panihati — the constituency linked to Ghosh and the cremation site.
West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul on Friday, 14 August 2025, demanded the arrest of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with an alleged larger conspiracy behind the rape and murder of a woman junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024. Paul made the demand while speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, drawing a direct parallel between Banerjee and those already taken into custody in the case.
Paul's Core Argument
Paul alleged that Nirmal Ghosh, former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Whip in the West Bengal Assembly, Somnath Dey, a TMC councillor from Panihati Municipality, and Sanjeev Banerjee, a neighbour of the victim's family, were behind what she described as a 'conspired and hurried cremation' of the victim's body at a crematorium in Panihati.
'Ghosh and Banerjee have already been arrested, while Dey is missing. If Ghosh and Banerjee can be arrested for being part of the bigger conspiracy, why should the former Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, not also be arrested on the same grounds?' Paul said.
Allegations Against Former Chief Minister
Paul levelled a series of specific allegations against Mamata Banerjee regarding her conduct following the recovery of the victim's body on the morning of 9 August 2024. She alleged that the former Chief Minister issued instructions to the police from Jharkhand and questioned why a post-mortem was permitted after 6 p.m. — described as contrary to standard practice — and why no orders were issued to preserve the body.
Paul further alleged that the former Chief Minister 'tried to bribe the victim's parents through the police so that they would not open their mouths.' These are allegations made by a political opponent and have not been independently verified. Mamata Banerjee's office had not issued a formal response to these specific claims at the time of reporting.
Arrest and Public Outrage Over Nirmal Ghosh
Ghosh, who was arrested from Odisha on Thursday evening, was brought to the Khardah Police Station under the Barrackpore Police Commissariat on Friday. As he was being escorted to the Barrackpore Court from the police station, he faced a significant public backlash.
Locals reportedly hurled eggs at him, and some individuals allegedly slapped him. Ghosh reportedly put on a helmet to protect himself. Police managed to escort him through the agitated crowd and into a police van.
Political Context and Constituency Link
Ghosh is the former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator from the Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district — the same area where the victim's ancestral home is located. In a notable political turn, the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Panihati is Ratna Debnath, the victim's mother. This constituency connection has added a charged political dimension to an already sensitive case.
The RG Kar case, which triggered widespread protests across West Bengal and nationally in 2024, continues to generate political and legal reverberations more than a year after the incident. With arrests ongoing and a key accused still missing, the investigation's direction remains closely watched.
Point of View
In theory, extend upward. What is striking is the specificity of the allegations: timings of the post-mortem, instructions issued from Jharkhand, alleged bribery attempts — details that, if substantiated, would represent a serious institutional failure. The RG Kar case has already claimed careers and triggered months of street protests; the question now is whether the investigative agencies will follow the political pressure or chart an independent course. The fact that the victim's own mother holds the Panihati seat as a BJP MLA adds a layer of accountability pressure that is unusual even by Bengal's combustible political standards.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Agnimitra Paul demanding Mamata Banerjee's arrest in the RG Kar case?
Paul argues that since former TMC Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh and neighbour Sanjeev Banerjee have already been arrested for alleged conspiracy in the RG Kar rape-murder case, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should face the same scrutiny. She alleges Banerjee directed police from Jharkhand, allowed a delayed post-mortem, and attempted to prevent the victim's family from speaking out.
Who is Nirmal Ghosh and why was he arrested?
Nirmal Ghosh is the former TMC legislator from Panihati Assembly constituency and former TMC Chief Whip in the West Bengal Assembly. He was arrested from Odisha on Thursday evening in connection with the alleged conspiracy to hastily cremate the RG Kar rape-murder victim's body. He was brought to Barrackpore Court on Friday amid a public outcry.
What is the RG Kar rape-murder case?
The RG Kar case refers to the rape and murder of a woman junior doctor within the premises of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024. The case triggered massive protests across West Bengal and India, raising questions about hospital safety and institutional accountability.
Who is Somnath Dey and what is his alleged role?
Somnath Dey is a TMC councillor from Panihati Municipality who is allegedly linked to the hurried cremation of the victim's body. According to Paul's allegations, Dey was part of the conspiracy alongside Ghosh and Sanjeev Banerjee. Dey is currently reported to be missing.
What is the political significance of Ratna Debnath being the Panihati MLA?
Ratna Debnath, the victim's mother, is the current BJP MLA from Panihati — the same constituency formerly represented by Nirmal Ghosh, who has now been arrested. This overlap between the victim's family and the constituency's political representation has intensified scrutiny on the case's local political dynamics.
