KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Monday told Kolkata Police to wind up investigations into rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Hospital by Sunday, failing which the probe will be handed over to CBI.
Mamata gave the ultimatum after meeting the 31-year-old doctor’s parents at their home amid widespread protests in Bengal and elsewhere over the rape-murder on Aug 9 and two days after a police volunteer, Sanjay Roy (35), was arrested in the case.
Speaking after a 45-minute interaction with the family, the CM referred to their suspicions about an “insider role”.
“There were nurses and others around. I still do not understand how this incident took place. The parents said they suspect involvement of an insider. I told police that if there is any suspicion against anyone – be it the doctor’s friends or the first caller (who informed the family of the incident) – they should be questioned,” the CM said. She expressed shock at the “brutality” of the murder, repeating her promise to seek capital punishment in the case.
Indicating her willingness for a possible CBI probe, Mamata couched it with a reminder about the central agency’s alleged lack of success in taking big Bengal cases to their logical conclusion. “I do not have any issue with a CBI takeover but their success rate is low,” she said.
Kolkata Police chief Vineet Goyal, who was with the CM when she met the doctor’s family, expressed confidence that the probe will be wrapped up “in the next four-five days”. “We can make more arrests if needed and, even after that if the family is not satisfied (with the probe), whatever Madam (Mamata) has said will happen,” Goyal said.
Mamata sought to underscore the message that govt had acted promptly. “RG Kar principal has resigned. We have removed the MS-cum-vice-principal and department head (chest medicine) as well as the assistant commissioner of police,” she said.
Mamata gave the ultimatum after meeting the 31-year-old doctor’s parents at their home amid widespread protests in Bengal and elsewhere over the rape-murder on Aug 9 and two days after a police volunteer, Sanjay Roy (35), was arrested in the case.
Speaking after a 45-minute interaction with the family, the CM referred to their suspicions about an “insider role”.
“There were nurses and others around. I still do not understand how this incident took place. The parents said they suspect involvement of an insider. I told police that if there is any suspicion against anyone – be it the doctor’s friends or the first caller (who informed the family of the incident) – they should be questioned,” the CM said. She expressed shock at the “brutality” of the murder, repeating her promise to seek capital punishment in the case.
Indicating her willingness for a possible CBI probe, Mamata couched it with a reminder about the central agency’s alleged lack of success in taking big Bengal cases to their logical conclusion. “I do not have any issue with a CBI takeover but their success rate is low,” she said.
Kolkata Police chief Vineet Goyal, who was with the CM when she met the doctor’s family, expressed confidence that the probe will be wrapped up “in the next four-five days”. “We can make more arrests if needed and, even after that if the family is not satisfied (with the probe), whatever Madam (Mamata) has said will happen,” Goyal said.
Mamata sought to underscore the message that govt had acted promptly. “RG Kar principal has resigned. We have removed the MS-cum-vice-principal and department head (chest medicine) as well as the assistant commissioner of police,” she said.