West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced the suspension of three IPS officers over alleged mishandling and negligence on the part of the police of the RG Kar doctor rape and murder case that had sparked nationwide outrage last year.
The suspended officers are former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, former Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Abhishek Gupta and former Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Indira Mukherjee.
In a press conference on Friday, CM Adhikari asserted that the present government would continue its sustained crackdown to dismantle this vicious nexus. The Chief Minister stated that the government would not compromise in any manner on incidents affecting women and "Matri Shakti".
The Chief Minister said that the three officers were allegedly involved in the “mishandling” of the case, “offering money to the victim’s parents as bribe” and addressing an “unauthorised press conference” in connection with the gruesome crime, which took place in August, 2024, per a report by news agency PTI.
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Case triggered nationwide protests
The case dates back to August 9, 2024, when a junior doctor was found dead inside a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The incident led to widespread protests across the country, with doctors, students and citizens demanding justice for the victim and accountability in the investigation.
A 33-year-old civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested on allegations of rape and murder shortly after the incident.
The case later became a major political issue in West Bengal. The victim’s mother contested the recently-concluded Assembly elections from the Panihati Constituency on a BJP ticket and emerged victorious.
Delivering justice in the RG Kar case had also featured prominently in the BJP’s campaign promises during the assembly elections.
The latest action against the IPS officers marks a significant development in the politically sensitive case, which continues to draw public and political attention across the state.
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Raid at Presidency Jail
Meanwhile, DG (Prisons) N Ramesh Babu stated stated that a surprise raid was conducted at Presidency Jail on Thursday (May 14) evening in which 10 special teams carried out a nearly four-hour-long search operation and a total of 23 mobile phones were recovered from various concealed locations.
"A detailed investigation has now begun to determine how these phones entered the prison, who was using them, and with whom communication was being maintained," he stated.
On charges of administrative negligence, the Chief Minister said that the Superintendent of Presidency Correctional Home, Kujur, and Chief Controller Dipta Ghorai have been suspended with immediate effect.
