Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Kolkata Doctor's Alleged Rape and Murder; CBI to Probe Case

New Delhi — In a significant development, the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata, just days after the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The incident, which occurred on August 9, has sparked outrage and protests across the country.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, is set to hear the case on Tuesday. The court's supplementary cause list for August 20 indicates that the bench will also address the vandalism that took place at the hospital on the night of August 14.

The Calcutta High Court had earlier expressed its dissatisfaction with the Kolkata Police's handling of the investigation. On August 13, a division bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya transferred the probe to the CBI, citing a lack of significant progress in the case. The High Court also stated that it would monitor the investigation and directed the CBI to submit a report within three weeks.

In the aftermath of the incident, a mob targeted doctors who were holding a midnight protest against the alleged rape and murder. The mob vandalized parts of the hospital, leading to widespread criticism of the state government's handling of the situation. In response, police have released 76 photos of individuals allegedly involved in the vandalism and have made 30 arrests so far.

On August 16, the High Court criticized the police for their failure to prevent the mob violence, calling it an "absolute failure of the state machinery." The court expressed disbelief at the police's claim that they were unaware of the gathering of approximately 7,000 people at the hospital. The court has ordered both the police and the hospital authorities to submit affidavits detailing the "true state of affairs" at the hospital, with all connected matters scheduled for a hearing on August 21.

The case has garnered national attention, leading to protests by doctors in several cities. Among those arrested for the vandalism are two workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and several individuals in their teens and twenties, as reported by The Indian Express. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the opposition parties, BJP and CPM, of orchestrating the violence and spreading misinformation on social media.

In a related development, police have arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor. The case continues to unfold as the CBI takes over the investigation under the watchful eye of the judiciary.