Is the CBI Probe into the R.G. Kar Case Impartial?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Parents voice concerns about CBI's impartiality.
- Connections between key investigators raise doubts.
- Previous convictions highlight the seriousness of the case.
- Ongoing investigations look into evidence tampering.
Kolkata, July 16 (NationPress) The parents of the victim involved in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case voiced their concerns in a trial court on Wednesday regarding the impartiality of the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. They highlighted that both a senior official from the CBI and a prominent West Bengal Police officer, both from the same IPS batch, have been associated with the case, raising doubts about the investigation's neutrality.
The two IPS officers mentioned by the victim's parents' counsel during the trial were CBI’s additional director, Sampat Meena, who oversees the investigation into the horrific rape and murder of a junior woman doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata, which occurred within the premises in August of the previous year.
The West Bengal officer referenced is Vineet Kumar Goyal, the former Kolkata Police Commissioner and current additional director general of the special task force for the West Bengal Police. Goyal was serving as the city’s police chief when the brutal crime took place, and the initial investigation was conducted under his leadership. Following significant public outcry, Goyal was dismissed shortly after, and the CBI later took over the case following an order from the Calcutta High Court.
Both Sampat Meena and Vineet Kumar Goyal are from the 1994 IPS batch.
During Wednesday's proceedings, the victim's parents' counsel expressed fears that, due to their shared training background, the CBI might be reluctant to take necessary actions against Goyal, thus jeopardizing the fairness of the trial.
In response, the CBI counsel dismissed these concerns, asserting that having a batchmate relationship does not constitute a conflict of interest. The CBI’s legal representative stated, “There is no evidence linking Goyal to the conspiracy behind the crime, which is why no action has been taken against him.”
Earlier this year, the same trial court sentenced civic volunteer Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment after identifying him as the only convict in the rape and murder case. The CBI is currently probing the possibility of a larger conspiracy, particularly regarding evidence tampering that may have occurred during the initial investigation by the police.