Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case Live Updates: RG Kar Hospital Principal Suhrita Paul, Vice Principal sacked (2024)

The IMA has written to Union Health Minister J P Nadda, highlighting the urgent need for bringing a central law to deal with attacks on medics and healthcare establishments, and pointing out that a special exigency exists in relation to violence on doctors and hospitals.

The association demanded that a draft bill of 2019 that incorporated the amendment clauses of the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 and the Code Grey Protocol of the Kerala government -- "Prevention Management of Violence against Healthcare Workers" -- be proclaimed as an ordinance to instill confidence in the minds of doctors.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) held consultations with its state presidents and secretaries as well as with resident doctors' associations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

#watch | West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, "I came here straight from Delhi to meet the parents (of the deceased) and to understand their sentiments. They told me certain things. I would keep them confidential now. Based on the information which I have, I will write a… https://t.co/MiyOI3YMUb pic.twitter.com/ENZvvl5s9f

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024

Around 150 personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are being deployed at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital following an order of the Supreme Court, official sources told the news agency PTI on Wednesday.

A day after the apex court's order, the Union home ministry wrote to the West Bengal chief secretary seeking deployment of the CISF at the state-run hospital. Subsequently, a decision has been taken for the deployment of the CISF, the sources said.

Earlier in the morning, a CISF team, led by a DIG-rank officer, surveyed the hospital complex where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered earlier this month. The force is expected to secure the resident doctors' hostel and other facilities, the sources said.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Wednesday paid a visit to the residence of the woman doctor who was raped-murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here.

Bose, who returned from Cuttack, went to the doctor's residence and spoke to her parents. Bose had spoken to the doctor's parents over the phone twice on Tuesday and assured them of justice.

The IT Ministry on Wednesday asked social media platforms to immediately comply with the Supreme Court order on the removal of the name, photos and videos of the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Seeking prompt removal of identifiable references of the deceased from all social media platforms, the IT Ministry warned that failure to comply with the apex court's order may result in legal consequences and further regulatory action.

Social media platforms have been asked to inform the IT Ministry about actions taken by them in compliance with the Supreme Court order.

"The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has asked the social media platforms operating in India to comply with a recent Supreme Court order dated August 20, 2024, in the matter titled Kinnori Ghosh @ Anr. versus Union of India & Ors- Re: Circulation of name and photographs of deceased in RG Kar Medical college incident," an official release said.

In the wake of cases of sexual assault in West Bengal and Maharashtra, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi asked, "Where are we heading as a society?"

In a post on X, he said, "After West Bengal, UP, Bihar, the shameful crimes against daughters in Maharashtra also force us to think where are we heading as a society? After the crime against two innocent people in Badlapur, the first step to give them justice was not taken until the public came out on the streets demanding justice. Will we now have to protest to even register an FIR? Why has it become so difficult for victims to even go to the police station?"

"More efforts are made to hide crime than to provide justice, the biggest victims of which are women and people of weaker sections. Not filing an FIR not only discourages the victims but also encourages the criminals. All governments, citizens and political parties will have to seriously brainstorm on what steps should be taken to provide a safe environment to women in the society. Justice is the right of every citizen; he cannot be made dependent on the will of the police and administration," he said.

Former sportspersons took to the streets to seek justice for the trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Former East Bengal goalkeeper Sumit Mukherjee said, "All the players are here to protest against the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident and we demand justice... ."

Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP, held protests over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case.

#watch | Siliguri, West Bengal | Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members hold protest over RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder case. pic.twitter.com/4godXyZi02

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2024

The BJP West Bengal unit on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the law and order situation in the state has reached its nadir under her rule. The state BJP unit is holding a five-day demonstration to protest the alleged rape and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"The Chief Minister should resign as soon as possible," state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters at the demonstration venue at Shyambazar, about half a kilometre away from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday allowed the state BJP to stage the demonstration for five days to protest the alleged rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor. The state had prayed that the demonstration be allowed for only one day, claiming that a five-day sit-in would affect the convenience of the general public. PTI

As many as 151 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women in their election affidavits, with West Bengal having the highest number of lawmakers facing such cases, according to a recent report by a poll rights body.

For the report, the Association for Democratic Reforms examined 4,693 out of 4,809 affidavits of sitting MPs and MLAs submitted to the Election Commission of India during elections between 2019 and 2024. The organisation identified 16 MPs and 135 MLAs facing cases related to crimes against women.

West Bengal tops the list with 25 sitting MPs and MLAs facing charges related to crimes against women, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 21 and Odisha with 17, according to the report that comes amid the nationwide protests over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a state-run hospital in Kolkata and sexual assault of two children in Thane.

According to the report, there are 16 sitting MPs and MLAs who have declared cases related to rape under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 376, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and can be extend to life imprisonment. Of these, two are MPs and 14 MLAs.

Amid widespread outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari sought the resignation of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she had "lost her credibility."

As the doctors' protest continued, the OPD of Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital remained shut for patients. Here's what patients have to say

VIDEO | Kolkata doctor rape and murder case: As doctors continue their protest, the OPD of Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital remain shut for patients. Here's what patients have to say:(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/4itTrnBcEY

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2024

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) on Wednesday issued an appeal to all advocates to observe a “peaceful protest” on Thursday by wearing black ribbons on their arms as a mark of protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor in Kolkata.

Condemning the crime at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the BCD also sought capital punishment for the accused.

The BCD’s circular appealed to the Centre to issue “appropriate directions to the investigating agency to conclude the investigation expeditiously and ensure capital punishment to the perpetrators of this brutal and heinous crime.”

A former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking an ED investigation against its ex-principal Sandip Ghosh, alleging financial irregularities by him during his tenure at the state-run facility, the news agency PTI reported.

Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj granted permission to Akhtar Ali to file the petition, seeking an order directing the Enforcement Directorate to probe alleged financial irregularities against Ghosh. Ali had earlier claimed that he had complained against Ghosh in 2023 to the West Bengal government authorities.

The state government had on Monday formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into alleged financial irregularities at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which has grabbed national headlines after the body of a woman doctor was found in a seminar hall on August 9. The CBI is investigating the alleged rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee, upon directions of the high court.

The AIIMS Delhi administration on Wednesday appealed to striking resident doctors to resume duties in the interest of patient care, saying a collaborative internal security audit will be conducted to assess safety and security measures within the campus.

Two committees have also been constituted by the administration to look into safety issues at the institute and other concerns of the doctors.

Resident doctors of AIIMS have been on strike demanding a central legislation for the protection of healthcare workers following the alleged rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at a state-run medical college and hospital in Kolkata. Besides the security audit, the AIIMS administration has also decided to install Al-enabled CCTV cameras at key entry and exit points of the Mother and Child Block on a pilot basis. PTI

Resident doctors staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, marking the 10th day of their indefinite strike over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a Kolkata hospital, news agency PTI reported.

"It's very important to understand that we are fighting for better working conditions in our own workplace," one of the protesting doctors said.

The women's wing of the Aam Aadmi Party held a protest outside Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, on Wednesday demanding justice for the trainee woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, news agency PTI reported.

(PTI Photo)

The BJP West Bengal unit on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the law and order situation in the state has reached its nadir under her rule, news agency PTI reported.

The state BJP unit is holding a 5-day demonstration to protest the alleged rape and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"The Chief Minister should resign as soon as possible," state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters at the demonstration venue. (PTI)

The Calcutta High Court Wednesday adjourned till September 4 the joint hearing of several PILs over the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and vandalism by miscreants since the Supreme Court is already seized of the matter, according to news agency PTI.

The bench, comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, reiterated its request to refrain from disclosing the identity of the victim after a lawyer pointed out to the court that despite its directions in this regard in its earlier order on August 13, the name and photograph of the woman doctor were being circulated in the social media. (PTI)

Protests continued in Kolkata for the 13th consecutive day against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor inside the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9.

Resident doctors will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday, the 10th day of their indefinite strike over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, news agency PTI reported.

AIIMS, GTB, Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals, Maulana Azad Medical College and its associated hospitals have released individual statements urging participation in the silent protest.

On Tuesday, after conducting a meeting with the RDA members, the bodies representing the resident doctors released a statement saying they will continue with the strike until the Health Ministry takes concrete action on the issue of CPA. (PTI)

A day after the Supreme Court ordered the deployment of CISF at Kar Medical College and Hospital, a team of the central paramilitary force on Wednesday visited the state-run medical establishment and inspected the security arrangements, news agency PTI reported.

The team led by a senior officer reached the hospital in the morning, and talked to the local police and hospital authorities about the security arrangements, according to an official. (PTI)

Former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh, on Wednesday arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office for further questioning in the matter, news agency PTI reported.

The CBI may conduct a polygraph test on Ghosh, stating that, "We want to further verify Ghosh’s answers, as there have been discrepancies in some of the replies to our questions. Therefore, we are mulling over the option to conduct a polygraph test on him,” an official told PTI.

A team of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) visited the premises of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

Healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals in West Bengal on Wednesday, as junior doctors continued their ceasework for the 13th consecutive day to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar hospital, news agency PTI reported.

Services at outpatient departments and non-emergency units were crippled, as long queues of patients were seen outside ticket counters of state-run hospitals, the report stated.

"We are not issuing tickets until there is confirmation that doctors concerned are present on duty. There is a huge number of patients coming for treatment at the hospital every morning, but doctors are a handful," a senior medic at the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital told PTI.

Some doctors have rescheduled surgeries owing to the absence of the junior medics, he said.

Senior doctors have been asked to report for duty in place of the junior medics at several hospitals, even as the state government urged the demonstrators again to resume work, officials said.

"Our stir will continue until we ensure justice for our sister. We understand that patients are facing problems, but our demands are justified," a junior doctor told PTI. (PTI)

CBI officers may conduct a polygraph test on Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, news agency PTI reported.

“We want to further verify Ghosh’s answers, as there have been discrepancies in some of the replies to our questions. Therefore, we are mulling over the option to conduct a polygraph test on him,” an official told PTI.

Ghosh had appeared before the CBI for fifth day in a row Tuesday, facing questions about inconsistencies in his statements.

Two Assistant Commissioners of Police and an inspector have been suspended in connection with the vandalism at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the night of August 14 for alleged negligence as they were on duty at hospital, said officials.

A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against ACPs Shakir Uddin Sardar, Ramesh Shah Chowdhury, and inspector Rakesh Minz.

Read the full story here.

A scuffle broke out between police personnel and ABVP activists during a march to Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal health department, in the Salt Lake area to protest against the alleged rape and murder of an RG Kar hospital medic.

The protestors demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who also doubles up as the state’s health and home minister.

The police had put up barricades at several roads leading to Swasthya Bhavan, which the ABVP activists tried to break through, a senior officer said.

-- PTI

Deploring the alleged "insensitive attitude" of the West Bengal government to the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said a "fear psychosis" has gripped the children of the country following the ghastly crime.

Pradhan, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme of IIT Kharagpur in the city, said the respective governments at the state and Centre must abide by the directives of the Supreme Court on the issue.

"But the world has been witness to the insensitivity of the state government, the 'don't care' attitude, and the unsuccessful effort to hide evidence," he said. (PTI)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday termed the alleged rape and murder of a medic at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as horrific and reprimanded the West Bengal government over a delay in filing the FIR in the matter.

Here’s what the court said:

CJI Chandrachud stated that the NTF will look into the safety and wellbeing of medical professionals. The CJI also outlined that the NTA will prepare an action plan toprevent gender-based violence and ensure dignified working conditions for interns, resident and non-resident doctors.

The action plan will consider the following:

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Tuesday called on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

The meeting comes amid the cease-work agitation by junior doctors in West Bengal to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor which entered the 12th day on Tuesday.

The National Task Force will constitute the following doctors and medical professionals:

The Supreme Court expresses serious concern over the attack, and asked why nobody in the hospital filed an FIR till 11:45 pm, when the autopsy was done much earlier.

"Autopsy revealed that the doctor was murdered and the FIR was registered at 11:45 pm. What were the authorities at the hospital doing?" the apex court said.

The bench comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also noted, "It appears crime was detected in early hours, medical college principal tried to pass it off as suicide."

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, "let us not make this a political issue and I request state of WB to not be in a denial mode... this was a complete failure of law and order across the state."

The Supreme Court also came down heavily on the government saying, "When the conduct of the R G Kar Hospital's principal was under scrutiny, how was he appointed to another college immediately?"

CJI Chandrachud says: "We are setting up a national task force which will have doctors from diverse backgrounds who will suggest modalities to be followed all across India so that safety conditions of work is there and young or middle aged doctors are safe in their work environment."

The court has also sought a status report from the CBI.

Supreme Court begins hearing on suo motu case on the rape and murder of a doctor in state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal.

The demand of protesting doctors to bring in a special law to protect healthcare workers is unlikely to be supported by the Union Health Ministry, indicated senior officials, adding it would not make any difference anyway.

The officials said a panel is being constituted to look into effective security measures and the protesting doctors can make representations in front of it. The Health Ministry, meanwhile, approved a 25% spike in security deployment in Central government-run hospitals. Deployment of marshals will also be allowed. Read report here

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has written a letter to the Head of the Central Government Hospitals/Institutes, AIIMS/INIs for enhancing security in all central government hospitals. (Photo: ANI)

The healthcare services were severely affected at state-run hospitals across West Bengal as the agitation by junior doctors to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic entered the 12th day on Tuesday, reports PTI.

Long queues of patients were seen at several government-run hospitals in the state where senior doctors and assistant professors attended them at OPDs.

Taking aim at the doctors’ strike following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month, TMC MP Arup Chakraborty said “we will not save you” if public anger falls on the doctors due to their strike.

“In the name of the movement, you may go home or go about with your boyfriend. If a patient dies because of your strike and public anger falls on you, we will not save you,” he said at a rally in West Bengal’s Bankura on Sunday.

Sixteen external and nine internal injury marks, death due to manual strangulation and smothering, and forceful penetration – these are among findings of the post-mortem report of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s R G Kar medical college and hospital, it is learnt.

The findings emerged a day after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance and listed matters related to the case for hearing on Tuesday.

Read full report here.

The West Bengal government on Monday announced setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into alleged financial irregularities at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from January 2021.

The period corresponds to the tenure of Dr Sandip Ghosh, who joined as the principal of the medical college in mid-2021.