Kolkata rape-murder LIVE: CBI to conduct polygraph test on RG Kar ex-principal, 4 others
In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike following an appeal by the Supreme Court
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), that is investigating the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is set to conduct a polygraph test on Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the institution and four other people.
Unsatisfactory answers
The CBI decided to take the test after failing to get satisfactory answers from Ghosh even though he has been questioned for 88 hours in the span of week.
The agency will also conduct a polygraph test on two first-year PGT doctors whose fingerprints were found in the seminar hall where the trainee medic was allegedly raped and murdered. They were reportedly on duty along with the victim on the night of the crime and had dinner together before she retired to the seminar hall.
The CBI will also conduct polygraph test on a house staff member who was captured on CCTV while going from the first floor emergency to the third floor as well as an intern who reportedly interacted with the victim before she went the seminar hall.
Even though findings of polygraph test are not admissible in court, they help investigators get a lead on the case.
Delhi doctors withdraw protest
In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike over the rape and murder following an appeal by the Supreme Court.
Healthcare professionals across the country ceased work after the body of the medic, a junior doctor, was found in a seminar room of the West Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
Non-emergency services, including OPD and diagnostics, were shut as medics, including resident doctors, of major central and Delhi government-run hospitals struck work on August 12 evening, causing hardships for patients and delay in treatment. Residest doctors, including those of Centre-run AIIMS, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Delhi government-run LNJP, Maulana azad Medical College, GTB Hospital and Indira Gandhi Hospital, resumed duties after two national bodies announced the end of the strike on Thursday evening. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) took the decision after the Supreme Court issued directions about the safety of healthcare personnel.
While it appealed to medics across the country to rejoin duty and assured that no coercive action will be taken against them, the top court also said judges and doctors cannot go on a strike since they deal with matters involving life and liberty.
Bengal doctors to continue stir
Except West Bengal, resident doctors' associations of all other states have called off their strike. In Bengal, the epicentre of the protests, healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals as agitating junior doctors have said they would continue their ceasework.
"We have decided to continue our ceasework because justice is yet to be delivered. The Supreme Court has avoided the justice part. We must not forget that getting justice for our sister is our prime goal," one of the protesting doctors told PTI.
Extremely disturbing: SC
During Thursday’s hearing of the case, the Supreme Court termed "extremely disturbing" the Kolkata Police's delay in registering the unnatural death of the woman doctor.
“Justice and medicine cannot be stopped,” the court said while hearing the suo-motu case.
The top court also directed the Centre and the states to take urgent steps to institutionalise the safety of medics across the country.
Court’s directions on safety of medics
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued a slew of directions on the safety of doctors, norms for protests, rights of protesters as well as the West Bengal government.
It said the National Task Force (NTF) formed by the apex court will take note of the suggestions of all the stakeholders while formulating a national protocol for the safety of healthcare professionals, including the associations representing resident doctors.
"We direct the secretary of the Union Ministry of Health to engage with the chief secretaries of the states and directors general of police to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals," the bench said, while ordering that the exercise be completed in a week.
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Live Updates
- 22 Aug 2024 7:25 AM GMT
Not gang rape, finds CBI probe: Report
The CBI probe so far indicates that the trainee doctor was not gang-raped, according to an India Today report. The probe has reportedly found the involvement of only one person, civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who was arrested by Kolkata Police shortly after the crime. - 22 Aug 2024 7:20 AM GMT
Timeline of events
CJI: (reads) "After PMR and inquest, the body is handed over to mother, after return to the police station a UD (unnatural death) case is registered, all police superiors were informed....It appears that initial report of UD was received and registered at 10.10 am, after they received they return to police station at night FIR recorded at 11.30 night." - 22 Aug 2024 6:53 AM GMT
SC questions state on procedure followed
CJI: "GD recorded at 10.10 am, phone call received that a PG lady doctor was found unconscious at third floor... The dead body of victim, the board verbally opined that death was due to strangulation, possibility of sexual assault, this is possibility... The post-mortem takes place at 6-7 pm after which the investigation takes place... (reading) Blue jeans were found on the dais, examination of the victim took place...(reading) one lady was found on a mattress on the dais, in an unconscious state, after this UD is registered, AFTER he returned to the police state (official) where seized articles were kept." - 22 Aug 2024 6:50 AM GMT
"Never seen such procedure": SC slams state
Justice Pardiwala: "The entire procedure followed by your state is something which I have not come across in the 30 years of my career....the first thing, is it true that the UD was recorded at 10.30 hours? Second, who is this Assistant Superintendent Non-Medical? Her conduct is also very doubtful, why did she act in this manner?"
- 22 Aug 2024 6:45 AM GMT
Court questions state over filing of case diary
Justice Misra: Autopsy was conducted in the evening hours of (August) 9th, the GD entry of unnatural death recorded at 11.30 at night..."Sibal: "Allow me to place timeline minute by minute."Justice Pardiwala: "When was PMR done?"Sibal: "6.10-7.10 pm."Justice Pardiwala: "When you start performing the post-mortem, it means that it's a case of unnatural death, UD 861/24 was registered at 23.20 hours, 9th August the GD entry and FIR recorded at 11.45 pm, is this true?"Justice Pardiwala: "This is very surprising, post-mortem precedes registration of the UD!"Justice Pardiwala: "UD 861/24 was registered at what hours?"Sibal: "1.46 hours."Justice Pardiwala: "From where do you get this?"Justice Pardiwala: "Next time during hearings please keep a responsible police officers."
- 22 Aug 2024 6:30 AM GMT
SG claims cover-up
SG: "We entered the investigation on the 5th day, everything was altered."Sibal: "Everything is videographed, not altered."SG: "The senior doctors, colleagues of the victim asked for a videography. That means even they felt there was a cover-up." - 22 Aug 2024 6:22 AM GMT
CJI seeks medical report of injury of accused
CJI: "Where is the medical report of the injury of the accused?"Sibal: "It's part of the case diary." - 22 Aug 2024 6:17 AM GMT
SG submits CBI status report
SC Bench going through status report submitted by CBI.
- 22 Aug 2024 6:13 AM GMT
CCTV cameras not installed
Counsel submits that former principal of RG Kar Medical College did not install CCTV cameras worth Rs 14 lakh and that had the CCTV been there, the incident could have been tracked. Counsel adds that the Kolkata Police SIT constituted has only officials under the control of the WB government.
