The Calcutta High Court has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation expanded powers to revisit the probe into the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital case, permitting fresh interrogation to examine the possibility of a “larger conspiracy”.
In a significant order, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh ruled that investigators are free to re-examine any individual if required in the interest of the case. The court also clarified that even the convicted accused can be re-interrogated if deemed necessary to uncover the truth.
The case relates to the death of a young woman doctor whose body was found at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, sparking nationwide outrage and protests.
A day after the incident, civic volunteer Sanjay Roy was arrested. Following directions from the High Court, the investigation was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
On January 20 this year, a Sealdah court sentenced Roy to life imprisonment. However, concerns over the depth and direction of the probe persisted, with the victim’s family alleging that key aspects of the case had not been fully examined.
Dissatisfied with the progress of the investigation, the victim’s parents approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a more comprehensive probe. The matter had earlier reached the Supreme Court of India, which indicated that the High Court was the appropriate forum to hear related petitions.
Also read: Will uproot TMC: RG Kar victim’s mother makes political debut
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh’s directive now significantly broadens the scope of the inquiry. It allows the CBI to summon and question individuals afresh if new leads emerge or gaps are identified in the earlier investigation.
The court also permitted investigators to interrogate the convicted accused in prison, if required, to verify new evidence or establish links pointing to a wider conspiracy.
The case has also acquired a political dimension, with the Bharatiya Janata Party fielding the victim’s mother as a candidate from Panihati in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Legal experts say the order could prove crucial in determining whether additional individuals were involved in the crime or if a broader conspiracy exists beyond the already convicted accused.
With the CBI now empowered to reopen lines of inquiry, the focus shifts to whether fresh evidence or testimonies will emerge, potentially reshaping the course of a case that continues to draw national attention.
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