CBI takes over investigation into Kolkata doctor's rape-murder case

Officials from Delhi along with forensic scientists to reach Bengal's capital today

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the transfer of the investigation into the rape and murder of a postgraduate resident doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It directed the police to hand over all related documents to the central agency by Wednesday.

“Under normal circumstances, the court would have granted more time, but this case is exceptional…even after five days, there have been no significant developments, which should have occurred by now,” a division Bench, presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench. 

 

The high court’s direction came as resident doctors across the nation remained on strike for a second day -- paralysing non-urgent elective services in major hospitals -- following a call to action by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association of India (FORDA).

While the strike initially impacted only elective services, the situation in West Bengal has escalated, with emergency services also taking a hit. The state's health secretary has appealed to the striking doctors to return to work.

The effects of the strike are being felt in prominent hospitals, such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, where resident doctors have stood firm in their demands.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) has extended the strike across all medical colleges, with similar support being seen in Maharashtra and West Bengal. Impact of the strike was also felt in Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, and other states, amid reports of scores of patients returning from premier government-run hospitals without treatment.

This comes even as certain hospital administrations have warned resident doctors of disciplinary action, in event of strikes going against the code of conduct of the institution.  AIIMS, New Delhi, issued a stern warning, cautioning resident doctors that protests on or near the hospital campus would violate high court directives and could result in contempt of court charges.

The AIIMS administration, in an office memorandum, has instructed all department heads and centre chiefs to monitor and report the daily attendance of resident doctors by 3 pm. The memo emphasised the necessity of adhering to the code of conduct laid out by a high court division Bench, which expressly prohibits strikes and demonstrations within the institution.

FORDA had initiated the indefinite strike on Monday, suspending non-urgent elective services nationwide to demand a thorough investigation into the rape and murder incident. Despite high-level meetings with health ministry officials, the discussions failed to yield a satisfactory resolution, prompting the continuation of the strike into Tuesday.

The strike has garnered widespread support from RDAs and state medical associations, all rallying for justice for the deceased doctor and demanding stricter mandated security protocols for health-care workers.

Amid the protests, the National Medical Commission (NMC) stepped in on Tuesday, issuing an advisory to all medical colleges and institutions, urging them to ensure a safe working environment for doctors. This move followed directives from Union Health Minister J P Nadda.

The NMC’s advisory asks medical colleges to develop comprehensive safety policies, including the installation of CCTV cameras, improved lighting in corridors, and bolstered security measures. Colleges have been given a strict 48-hour deadline to submit action reports following any unforeseen incidents.

This comes following a meeting between a four-member delegation of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Nadda. The IMA had already written to the health ministry on Monday, apprising it of the safety situation for doctors. Uttar Pradesh’s RDA has penned a similar letter to the health ministry, demanding immediate implementation of security measures at medical institutions.

The nationwide protests erupted after the killing of a 31-year-old resident doctor in Kolkata, whose brutalised body was discovered last Friday in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College. She had gone to rest after a 36-hour shift, only to be found murdered in the morning.

The victim had multiple injuries, including a broken neck bone. An autopsy later confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted and murdered. Last Saturday, police arrested Sanjay Roy, a hospital volunteer, in connection with the crime.