West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday suspended three senior IPS officers over alleged negligence in the handling of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case and ordered a departmental
inquiry against them.
The suspended officers are:
- IPS Vineet Goyal, former Kolkata Police Commissioner
- IPS Indira Mukherjee
- IPS Abhishek Gupta
According to the Chief Minister’s announcement, the officers face action over alleged “lapses” in the investigation into the RG Kar rape-murder case that sparked nationwide outrage in 2024.
A departmental probe will now be initiated against all three officers, including former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.
The development marks one of the strongest administrative actions taken so far linked to the controversial handling of the case.
What Was The RG Kar Case?
The case dates back to August 9, 2024, when the body of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered inside a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Investigators alleged the woman was raped and murdered while on duty at the hospital.
The incident triggered:
- Massive protests by doctors across India
- Hospital strikes in West Bengal
- Demands for safer workplaces for women
- Calls for accountability from police and the state government
Questions Raised Over Initial Probe
The Kolkata Police initially handled the investigation before the case was transferred to the CBI following public pressure and intervention by the Calcutta High Court.
Serious allegations emerged over:
- Delays in collecting evidence
- Possible mishandling of the crime scene
- Communication with the victim’s family
- Alleged attempts to influence or offer money to the victim’s relatives
Doctors and opposition leaders repeatedly accused authorities of trying to suppress questions surrounding the investigation.
Former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal became a major target of protests, with junior doctors demanding his resignation.
CBI Investigation And Conviction
The CBI later identified Sanjay Roy as the primary accused in the rape and murder.
Roy was subsequently convicted in the case.
However, criticism over the initial handling of the probe continued even after the conviction, with activists and doctors arguing that accountability for investigative lapses remained unresolved.
Political Fallout Continues
The RG Kar case became one of the biggest political controversies in West Bengal in recent years and significantly shaped public discourse around women’s safety and policing.
The latest suspension of officers and order for departmental inquiries indicate renewed scrutiny into whether procedural failures occurred during the early stages of the investigation.
Authorities are yet to release detailed findings regarding the allegations against the suspended officers.
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