Kolkata, Feb 6 (NationPress) The recent promotion of Seema Pahuja, the investigating officer in the horrific rape and murder case of a junior doctor from the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, has triggered frustration among the victim's parents. This tragic incident occurred within the hospital grounds in August 2024.

Recently, the CBI unveiled a list of Additional Superintendents who were promoted to the rank of Superintendents.

Included in this list was Pahuja, who advanced from her role as Additional Superintendent of the CBI's anti-corruption division in Chandigarh to Superintendent of the CBI's special crime unit in New Delhi. She continues to serve as the investigation officer in the R.G. Kar case.

Pahuja's investigation determined that Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was the only perpetrator responsible for the rape and murder. Roy was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life in prison by a Kolkata trial court.

Since the verdict, the victim's parents have accused Pahuja of failing to pursue an independent and thorough investigation, merely reiterating the initial findings of the Kolkata Police that identified Roy as the sole suspect.

In response to Pahuja's promotion, the victim's mother expressed her discontent, stating that she did not deserve such recognition.

"She should not have been promoted; instead, she should face jail time for how she handled our daughter’s case. The CBI's investigation into the broader conspiracy remains ongoing. Once we progress, we will initiate legal action against Pahuja," the victim's mother remarked.

The victim's father asserted that Pahuja should have relinquished her investigative duties if she was unable to conduct a thorough inquiry.

"What she did was merely endorse the conclusions drawn by the Kolkata Police," he commented.

Moreover, Pahuja is not the only CBI officer criticized by the victim's family for an allegedly lax investigation. Last July, the family raised concerns during a trial court hearing in Kolkata, suggesting that the ongoing CBI investigation might not be impartial since a senior CBI official and a senior West Bengal Police officer involved in the case were from the same IPS batch.

One of the officers mentioned in court by the victim's parents was Sampat Meena, the CBI's Additional Director overseeing the investigation. The other named officer was the former Kolkata Police Commissioner, Vineet Kumar Goyal.

Notably, Goyal was the police chief when the heinous crime took place in August last year, and the initial investigation commenced under his supervision. However, following widespread public outcry, he was removed from his position shortly thereafter.

The CBI later took over the investigation following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.

Both Sampat Meena and Vineet Kumar Goyal belong to the 1994 IPS batch.