Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: Amid mounting calls for the dismissal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal following the Supreme Court’s hearing on the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has requested more time before any decision is made. Addressing the demands, she cited the upcoming Durga Puja festivities as a critical time for law and order, necessitating stability in the police force.
“Kolkata Police Commissioner has come to me several times last week and offered to resign,” Banerjee revealed. “We have pujo coming up. Someone who is aware of law and order has to be there. If you have patience for a few days, will it be a Mahabharat (big deal)?” she added, indicating that no immediate action would be taken.
The resignation of the police chief has been one of the primary demands of protesters following the arrest of Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College. Opposition parties have also thrown their support behind the demand, amplifying calls for Goyal’s removal.
Police Role Under Scrutiny
The role of the police in investigating the rape and murder of the young doctor has raised numerous concerns. The victim’s parents have alleged that they were pressured by the police to cremate their daughter’s body hastily and were even offered money to stay silent about the incident. These allegations have only intensified public outrage, with protesters questioning the integrity of the investigation.
Additionally, complaints about the videography of the postmortem and the decision to conduct it at RG Kar hospital, where a conflict of interest may have existed, have further complicated the case. A 14-hour delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) has also been repeatedly flagged, even by the judges presiding over the case in the Supreme Court.
Missing Document Raises Concerns
During today’s Supreme Court hearing, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud raised concerns over a missing document crucial to the postmortem examination. The bench questioned the absence of a challan, which should have listed the articles of clothing and personal items submitted for forensic analysis.
Justice JB Pardiwala, part of the three-judge bench, noted, “There is no reference of this challan when the dead body is sent for examination. If this document is missing, then something is amiss.” The state’s senior advocate, Kapil Sibal, was unable to immediately locate the document and has requested more time to address the issue.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the case, has also highlighted that the collection of forensic samples remains a key point of inquiry.
As the investigation continues, calls for the removal of Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal grow louder, but Mamata Banerjee has signaled that any decision may be postponed until after the upcoming Durga Puja festival.
