CBI tells SC probe difficult as crime scene at RG Kar altered
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New Delhi: In its status report, the CBI stated in front of the Supreme Court on Thursday that they had every cause to believe that there was an attempt to cover up the rape and murder of the doctor, who was a post-graduate student at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
"We entered the probe on the fifth day. Before that, whatever was collected by the local police was given to us. The investigation itself was a challenge because the scene of offence was altered. The FIR was registered only after the (victim's) cremation at 11:45 pm.
"First, the parents of the victim were informed by the deputy superintendent (of the hospital) that she was not well. When they reached the hospital, they were told that she had committed suicide..... Fortunately, the colleagues of the deceased insisted for videography. This suggests that they were suspecting a cover-up," a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the New Indian Express reported.
The Solicitor General continued, saying that even though the victim was already dead, the physicians had merely stated that she was unconscious when the initial call was sent to the Tala police station early on August 9. In his appearance on behalf of the Kolkata Police, senior attorney Kapil Sibal refuted the Solicitor General's assertions and maintained that the proper procedures were followed. Sibal pointed out that the crime scene had not been tampered with and that everything had been videotaped.
‘Wake up India’
The event occurred on the same day that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Modi to voice her outrage over the recent rape spree that the nation is seeing. More than ninety rapes are reported in India each day, she said.
"It is horrifying to see this trend. It shakes the confidence and conscience of society and the nation. It is our bounden duty to put an end to it so that women feel safe and secure. Such a serious and sensitive issue needs to be addressed comprehensively through stringent central legislation that prescribes exemplary punishment for those involved in these dastardly crimes," Mamata's letter to the PM stated.
"To ensure quick justice", the West Bengal CM called for swift trials that end in 15 days
Abhishek Banerjee, her nephew, too raised his voice and called for prompt prosecutions and convictions. Abhishek also demanded that the laws be stricter. He said that in the last ten days, there had been 900 rapes in India.
"Over the past 10 days, while the nation has been protesting against the #RGKarMedicalcollege incident and demanding justice, 900 RAPES have occurred across different parts of India - DURING THE VERY TIME WHEN PEOPLE WERE ON THE STREETS PROTESTING AGAINST THIS HORRIBLE CRIME. Sadly, a lasting solution still remains largely undiscussed,” Abhishek posted, ending his note with an all-caps "WAKE UP INDIA!".