RG Kar case: Former TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh appears before CBI in Kolkata
Synopsis
The CBI's RG Kar probe is zeroing in on political figures: former TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh appeared for questioning on 18 June, a day after investigators visited the Panihati crematorium. The victim's family — who allege a hurried cremation and evidence destruction — had specifically demanded his arrest. The case has a rare political dimension: the victim's mother is now a BJP MLA from the same constituency.
Key Takeaways
Former TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh appeared before the CBI on 18 June 2025 for questioning in the RG Kar rape and murder case .
The CBI visited the Panihati crematorium on Wednesday to gather details about the doctor's cremation.
The victim's family has alleged destruction of evidence, a blocked second autopsy, and a hasty cremation without proper documentation.
The family demanded the arrest of three people, including Nirmal Ghosh , and approached the Sealdah court last month.
The deceased doctor's mother is now a BJP MLA from Panihati after winning the recent state Assembly elections.
Tirthankar Ghosh , son of the former MLA, said the family is cooperating voluntarily with the investigation.
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Nirmal Ghosh on Thursday, 18 June appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its Kolkata office for questioning in connection with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case. The development marks a fresh escalation in the federal agency's reinvigorated probe into the August 2024 killing of a junior female doctor on the hospital's premises.
CBI Intensifies Probe
Central investigators have visibly stepped up their activity in recent days. On Wednesday, CBI officials visited the Panihati crematorium — where the deceased doctor was cremated — to gather details about the sequence of events following the body's arrival there and the circumstances of the cremation itself. The summoning of the former MLA the following day signals that the agency is now focusing on individuals the victim's family has long named in their allegations.
Family's Allegations and Court Petition
The victim's family has consistently alleged destruction of evidence, negligence, and a concerted attempt to suppress details of the incident. Specifically, they have claimed that a second autopsy of the body was blocked and that the cremation was carried out hastily, without handing over the necessary documents to the family. Based on these allegations, the family demanded the arrest of three individuals, including Nirmal Ghosh, who was then the sitting MLA of the area. Last month, the victim's parents approached the Sealdah court to press these demands.
Victim's Mother Now a BJP MLA
Notably, the deceased doctor's mother has since entered electoral politics and is now a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Panihati, having won her seat in the recent West Bengal state Assembly elections. She has been among the most vocal critics of the investigation from the outset, repeatedly raising questions about alleged lapses and cover-up attempts in the case.
Former MLA's Son Speaks
Tirthankar Ghosh, son of the former MLA, confirmed that the CBI had summoned both him and his father for questioning. He stated that the family wished to cooperate fully with the investigation and that his father had appeared voluntarily at the CBI office for that reason.
With the agency now revisiting the cremation site and questioning political figures linked to the case, the RG Kar investigation appears to be entering a more decisive phase — one that the victim's family and their legal representatives will be watching closely.
Point of View
The case carries an unusually direct political charge: any perceived slowdown or acceleration in the investigation will be read through a partisan lens. The real accountability test is whether the CBI's renewed activity produces charge-sheeted outcomes or remains a cycle of summons with no prosecutorial follow-through.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nirmal Ghosh and why was he summoned by the CBI?
Nirmal Ghosh is a former Trinamool Congress MLA from the Panihati area of West Bengal. The CBI summoned him for questioning in the RG Kar rape and murder case because the victim's family had specifically demanded his arrest, alleging he was among those responsible for evidence destruction and suppression of facts related to the case.
What is the RG Kar rape and murder case?
The RG Kar case refers to the rape and murder of a junior female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024. The case triggered widespread protests across India and has been under CBI investigation, with the victim's family alleging serious lapses including a hurried cremation and a blocked second autopsy.
Why did the CBI visit the Panihati crematorium?
CBI officials visited the Panihati crematorium on Wednesday, 18 June, to collect information about what happened after the deceased doctor's body was brought there and how the cremation was carried out. The victim's family has alleged the cremation was conducted hastily and without handing over the required documents to them.
What is the victim's family's key allegation in this case?
The family alleges that a second autopsy was prevented, that the body was cremated in haste without proper documentation, and that there were deliberate attempts to destroy evidence and conceal details of the incident. They have demanded the arrest of three individuals, including former MLA Nirmal Ghosh, and approached the Sealdah court last month to press these demands.
Who is the victim's mother and what role does she play in the case?
The deceased doctor's mother is now a BJP MLA from Panihati, having won her seat in the recent West Bengal state Assembly elections. She has been raising questions about the investigation since the beginning and has been among the most vocal voices alleging negligence and a cover-up in the case.
