RG Kar case: Calcutta HC orders CBI to seal all hospital areas linked to crime
Synopsis
Nearly nine months after a junior woman doctor was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Calcutta High Court has found that the CBI had not sealed key locations — including the then-Principal's office — and has now ordered immediate action. The court's pointed questioning of the CBI signals deepening judicial impatience with the pace and scope of the investigation.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court on 19 May 2025 directed the CBI to seal all hospital areas potentially linked to the RG Kar rape and murder case .
The seminar room where the victim's body was found on 9 August 2024 was already sealed; the office of former Principal Sandip Ghosh was not.
The division bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh questioned the CBI's failure to seal locations beyond the seminar room.
The bench was newly assigned after Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused on 12 May 2025 , citing the need for swift hearing.
The next hearing is scheduled for 21 May 2025 .
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, 19 May 2025, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to immediately seal all areas within the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata that may be connected to the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor in August 2024. The order came at the close of the first hearing by a newly assigned division bench, underscoring the court's concern that potential crime scenes within the hospital premises remain protected.
Key Developments
A division bench comprising Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh — assigned the matter on 15 May 2025 — specifically directed the CBI to ensure the seal on the seminar room within the hospital, where the victim's body was discovered on the morning of 9 August 2024, remained intact. When the CBI counsel confirmed the seminar room was still sealed, the victim's family counsel disclosed that the office and chamber of the then-Principal, Sandip Ghosh, had not been sealed.
Court Questions CBI's Investigation Scope
The division bench pointedly asked CBI counsel whether the investigating agency had not considered it necessary to seal spots beyond the seminar room for the sake of a thorough investigation. The court then directed the CBI to immediately seal all suspected locations within the hospital premises that could have any connection to the crime. The next hearing has been scheduled for 21 May 2025.
Who Is Sandip Ghosh
Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, is reportedly under scrutiny in both the rape and murder case and a separate investigation into alleged multi-crore financial irregularities at the institution. His office and chamber, according to the victim's family counsel, had not been sealed by the CBI prior to Tuesday's hearing — a gap the court has now moved to address.
Background: How the Bench Was Reconstituted
The previous division bench, headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha, recused itself from hearing the matter on 12 May 2025, observing that 'this important case needs to be heard quickly.' Chief Justice Sujoy Paul of the Calcutta High Court subsequently referred the matter to the bench of Justice Sarkar and Justice Ghosh on 15 May 2025. The petition before the court was filed by the family members of the victim, who sought permission to visit the scene of the crime.
What Comes Next
With the court's sealing order now in place, the CBI is expected to act swiftly to secure all relevant hospital areas before the next hearing on 21 May 2025. The case, which triggered nationwide protests and demands for justice for women in healthcare settings, continues to draw intense judicial scrutiny nearly nine months after the incident.
Point of View
A High Court should not be instructing investigators on basic crime-scene preservation. The reconstitution of the bench and the new bench's immediate corrective order suggest the judiciary has lost patience with procedural drift. Whether this intervention translates into accountability or remains another procedural milestone in a case that has stalled repeatedly is the real question.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Calcutta High Court order in the RG Kar case on 19 May 2025?
The Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to immediately seal all areas within R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital that may be linked to the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor in August 2024. The court specifically flagged that the office and chamber of former Principal Sandip Ghosh had not been sealed.
Who is Sandip Ghosh and why is his office significant?
Sandip Ghosh was the Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital at the time of the crime. He is reportedly under investigation in both the rape and murder case and a separate probe into alleged multi-crore financial irregularities at the hospital. His office had not been sealed by the CBI prior to the 19 May hearing.
Why was the division bench reconstituted in this case?
The previous bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused itself on 12 May 2025, stating that 'this important case needs to be heard quickly.' Chief Justice Sujoy Paul then assigned the matter to the bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on 15 May 2025.
When is the next hearing in the RG Kar case?
The Calcutta High Court has scheduled the next hearing for 21 May 2025. The CBI is expected to report compliance with the sealing order at that hearing.
What is the RG Kar rape and murder case?
The case involves the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor whose body was found in the seminar room of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on 9 August 2024. The incident triggered nationwide protests demanding justice and greater safety for women in healthcare workplaces. The CBI is the primary investigating agency.
