Today, the Supreme Court conducted a thorough investigation into what transpired at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on Day One—following the discovery of the murdered and sexually assaulted 31-year-old doctor’s body. And at every turn, the judges uncovered inconsistencies and oddities that were more captivating than any well-known murder mystery.
The court specifically asked questions centered on three points: The length of time that passed between the body’s discovery and the filing of the First Information Report; the designation of the death as abnormal even following a postmortem examination; and the sealing of the crime scene after over twelve hours. The judges stated that all of these have combined to paint a picture of an extremely skewed investigation.
The senior advocate, speaking on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation, began by pointing out inconsistencies in the West Bengal government’s timeline of events. The filing of the First Information Report at 11:45 p.m., following the cremation of the body, was what he claimed “surprised him the most.”
Leading the three-judge bench, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said he was intrigued by the fact that the police had turned up at 10.10 pm, sealed the crime scene at 10.10 am, and filed a General Diary at 10.10 am. He asked, “What was going on there all that time?”
After the state gave clarification, the postmortem was completed by 7:10 p.m., and it was acknowledged that the unnatural death complaint had been submitted by 11:30 p.m.
Judge JB Pardiwala remarked, “Was this a strange death? If so, why was an autopsy necessary? Here, we can observe that an odd death complaint is filed at 11:30 p.m. And after fifteen minutes, the FIR was filed? Give the court accurate information.
“Do not create confusion this way,” he said, as the state remained silent. At the following hearing, have a responsible police officer present.”
“Who is the Assistant Police Superintendent? His involvement in the inquiry is under question. How did he carry out an inquiry like this?” He continued.
In response, Justice Manoj Mishra questioned how the police could have filed a First Information Report on unnatural death after the postmortem was completed on August 9th.
When the state explained that the unnatural death was noted in the General Diary for the first time at 1:45 pm, the judge inquired as to when the investigation had begun. In response, the state said that it was 3.45 pm. Judge Pardiwala angrily criticized the police.
“In my thirty years as a lawyer, I have never seen an investigation like this,” he declared. “What was the basis for filing a case of unnatural death prior to an autopsy? Why did you file an unnatural death case following the autopsy, if you did? You now know the cause of death following the autopsy,” he continued.
Following the break, the court once more focused on the FIR’s late filing.
“At 9:30 am, the body was found. And at 11:30 p.m., a FIR was filed. And at 11:30 p.m., a FIR was filed. Why was the 14-hour delay in filing the FIR? “I am unable to determine the cause of it,” said Justice Chandrachud.
A case of unnatural death is typically filed in the absence of a formal complaint, as the state had previously explained. The head of the institution has a responsibility to file a formal complaint in these situations, according to the court.
“Why was not the Principal present to submit the FIR? Was there anyone putting a stop to him? For what reason was he moved to a different hospital? The court is interested in learning why all of this is happening, Justice Chandrachud asked once more today.
For a week, the CBI has been questioning former principal Sandip Ghosh every day. According to officials, he has not yet been able to provide them with satisfactory answers to their questions. The agency has submitted a status report on their investigation to the highest court today; the report’s contents are confidential.
The next hearing date is September 5.
