As the CBI delves into the disturbing case of a 31-year-old doctor’s rape and murder at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the investigation is facing significant challenges. The inquiry is yet to reveal a complex web of issues, including possible fake drug schemes in medical institutions, bribery for academic grades, prostitution rings, or even the disturbing possibility of videos involving necrophilia. Despite the seemingly outlandish theories, two aspects of the case are increasingly compelling.
The brutal nature of the crime, including the significant amount of semen found and the absence of any witnesses hearing a scream, suggests that this was not a random act but a planned gang rape and murder. The only suspect currently, Sanjay Roy, a known eccentric and civic volunteer for the Kolkata police, is unlikely to have acted alone.
Additionally, the efforts to cover up the crime are concerning. Initial attempts to label the death as suicide, the transfer of RG Kar principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh to another position, the hurried renovation of the hospital, and reports of goons vandalizing the premises to destroy evidence all point to a more extensive and sinister operation.
The CBI is grappling with a sequence of events, questioning whether the murder was a cover-up for the rape or the rape was intended to divert attention from the murder. It raises questions about whether the young doctor had uncovered something much more significant because, over the years, various reports have linked RG Kar to multiple scandals.
In 2001, a troubling case emerged when Dr. Soumitra, a 31-year-old physician, attempted to expose a porn ring operating within Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Despite substantial evidence supporting her claims, both the police and college authorities took no action, dismissing the murder case as a suicide.
This incident marked the beginning of a troubling pattern of unresolved cases involving suicides, mysterious deaths, and disappearances of students, with no substantive responses from the authorities.
Over the years, reports of professors molesting interns surfaced, yet persistent protests by brave doctors were ignored.
The unusual involvement of political party unions has raised questions about whether these incidents are connected to powerful political interests in West Bengal.
In one notable event, over 700 doctors resigned in a single day, but the reasons behind this mass resignation went unexamined, exposing bizarre practices such as the misuse of bodies intended for autopsy.
The administration’s neglect and continual harassment caused severe distress for students and medical staff. An alarming incident involved Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who physically assaulted a female student for posting a poster and then fled the scene. The Kolkata Police threatened the doctors, while TMC party workers attacked them, and Ghosh warned of career repercussions for dissenters. A lawsuit was filed against doctors based on false claims by Ghosh, but the authorities ignored these complaints.
Despite these issues, including intimidation of students who reported ragging and threats from Ghosh’s supporters, no arrests were made, and the status quo remained unchanged. Ghosh was reinstated in his position as principal of RG Kar Medical College after each transfer, and complaints about the administration’s actions continued to be overlooked.
On 16 August, 2024, a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital articulated demands for justice, including the arrest of those responsible, a formal apology, and resignations from higher authorities such as the former Principal, the MSVP, the Dean of Students Affairs, the HOD of the Chest Medicine Department, and the Assistant Superintendent on Duty. They also called for an explanation from Shastra Bhawan regarding Ghosh’s reinstatement and demanded lifelong financial support for the victim’s family. Additionally, they urged the implementation of robust security measures, including CCTV cameras and security guards, and strict action against the digital defamation of RG Kar students and the unauthorized circulation of the victim’s photo.
#WATCH | Kolkata: On the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a Junior Doctor of the Hospital says "Our primary demand is the arrest of the culprits with proper evidence with an official press release confirming the same from the CBI. We demand a written apology, order of… pic.twitter.com/PQ21OqPK4U
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2024
The repeated scandals and the ongoing mystery surrounding RG Kar Medical College and Hospital raises serious questions about the safety of students and patients.
- Porn ring behind student’s murder at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata – The Times of India, 7 November, 2001.
- RG Kar housestaff commits suicide inside hospital – The Times of India, 6 February, 2003.
- Medical student slashes wrists – Cops hunt for clues in fourth suicide bid at R.G. Kar – Telegraph, 17 February, 2003.
- College fobs off sleuths in death probe – Telegraph, 15 April, 2004.
- A second-year RG Kar student missing – Telegraph, 8 August, 2015.
- Unrest at R G Kar Medical College after woman’s death – The Times of India, 30 October, 2016.
- R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata: TMC union interfering in hostel bed allotment, says DSO – Indian Express, 16 September, 2016.
- No Security, No Service At RG Kar Medical College and Hospital – Medical Dialogues, 11 January, 2016.
- 95 doctors resign at RG Kar hospital, seek unconditional apology from CM – India Blooms, 14 June, 2019.
- Over 700 medicos quit hospitals in solidarity, healthcare in coma – The Times of India, 15 June, 2019.
- Kolkata: Junior doctor jumps off 6th floor of Covid-19 hospital, dies – Indian Express, 1 May, 2020.
- RG Kar intern dies of ‘drug overdose’ – The Times of India, 13 August, 2023.
- After JU, now student death at RG Kar hospital – Telegraph, 13 August, 2023.
- RG Kar Medical College Intern Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances – Medical Dialogues, 14 August, 2023.
- Intern’s molest plaint against R G Kar docs – The Times of India, 27 May, 2023.
(This article is based on an X thread by Pradeep Prajapati)