Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: A Kolkata court expressed frustration over the absence of the CBI’s investigating officer and a significant delay in the arrival of the agency’s lawyer during a hearing related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. The delay prompted the magistrate to question whether bail should be granted to the main accused, Sanjay Roy, and to criticize the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its “lethargic attitude.”
During Friday’s bail hearing for Roy, a civic volunteer accused of raping and murdering the doctor, the Sealdah court’s Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Pamela Gupta was informed that the CBI’s public prosecutor would arrive late. The investigating officer was also absent. As the defense presented its arguments for bail, the magistrate remarked, “Should I grant bail to Sanjay Roy? This reflects a severely lethargic attitude on the part of the CBI. It is very unfortunate.”
The prosecutor arrived 40 minutes late, after which the court resumed hearing arguments. Ultimately, the magistrate sent Roy to judicial custody for another 14 days.
The delay in court proceedings sparked strong criticism from the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has faced backlash over its handling of the crime. TMC leaders accused the CBI of not taking the case seriously and alleged attempts to “sabotage justice.”
“This shows blatant disregard for justice. The court waited, and yet no one came. The CBI took over this case more than 24 days ago, and there has been no significant progress,” said TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya. She called out the opposition for not addressing the issue and questioned the lack of accountability in the investigation.
The Trinamool Congress also took to social media platform X to express its outrage. In one post, the party stated, “Today, during the R G Kar case hearing, the Investigating Officer and Public Prosecutor of the CBI went missing in action. Is this not an outright insult to the victim? A blatant disregard for justice?”
In another post, TMC added, “After 24 days of stalling, the CBI didn’t even bother to send their Investigating Officer or Public Prosecutor for the RG Kar case hearing. This is nothing short of sabotaging justice!”
The BJP and the CPM were also targeted by the TMC, which accused both parties of remaining silent and failing to demand accountability in the case.
The horrific crime occurred on August 9, when the trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College. Her body was discovered that morning, and an autopsy report indicated that she had sustained multiple injuries before being smothered to death. The case, initially handled by Kolkata Police, was transferred to the CBI on the orders of the Calcutta High Court.
The investigation is ongoing, but the court’s comments and the political backlash suggest growing frustration over the slow pace of justice in this high-profile case.
