Kolkata doctor's rape-murder: unfolding the events of August 9

The Supreme Court has criticized Kolkata Police for their delay in registering the rape and murder case of a 31-year-old doctor. The victim, a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, was found dead on August 9 by a fellow doctor at around 9:30 am. Despite discovering the body early in the morning, the First Information Report (FIR) was only filed at 11:45 pm, raising concerns over the handling of the investigation.

Sequence of events and delays

The police arrived at the crime scene at 10:10 am, where they collected 40 pieces of evidence. The seminar room where the incident occurred was sealed off to prevent contamination. Senior officers and forensic teams reached the site around 11:00 am. Despite these efforts, the FIR was delayed until late at night. The victim’s family was informed at 10:52 am, and the police commissioner arrived at 12:30 pm. The body was handed over to the police at 1:47 pm, and the post-mortem was conducted at 6:10 pm.

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The Supreme Court questioned the reasons behind the delay and criticized the involvement of the medical college’s principal in delaying the FIR. The court found it alarming that the unnatural death report was not sent until 11:30 pm, despite the post-mortem being completed earlier.

Legal and public reactions

The incident has sparked public outrage, with protests led by BJP activists condemning the handling of the case. The Supreme Court’s stern remarks highlight the serious lapses in the investigation, pointing out inconsistencies in the timeline and questioning the motives behind the delays. The court demanded answers regarding the delay in filing the FIR and criticized the procedural lapses, describing them as "extremely disturbing." The case continues to draw significant attention as more details emerge, putting the spotlight on police accountability and the justice process.