The court was hearing Sanjay Roy’s bail application.
Calcutta:
The absence of the CBI investigator in the rape and murder of the intern doctor in Kolkata and the 40-minute delay in the arrival of the agency’s lawyer has prompted an angry city court to question whether it should grant bail to the main accused. The court also pulled up the agency, saying it reflected a “lethargic attitude” on its part.
The developments in the court have also prompted an attack on the CBI and the BJP from the Trinamool Congress, which is under fire for its handling of the gruesome crime, with the party alleging attempts are being made to “subvert justice”. The investigation had been transferred to the agency by the Kolkata Police on the directions of the Calcutta High Court.
While hearing the bail plea of Sanjay Roy – a civic volunteer who was arrested for raping and killing the intern doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital – on Friday afternoon, a magistrate of the Sealdah court noted that the CBI investigating officer was not present in the hearing.
As Roy’s lawyer argued for his bail, Deputy Chief Magistrate Pamela Gupta was informed that the prosecutor would be arriving late. As the lawyer’s wait continued, the magistrate remarked, “Should I grant bail to Sanjay Roy? This reflects an extremely lethargic attitude on the part of the CBI. It is very unfortunate.”
The lawyer finally arrived about 40 minutes late, prompting the defence lawyer to also raise the issue of the delay. The arguments then continued and, after hearing both sides, the magistrate sent Roy to judicial custody for 14 days.
Reacting to what happened in court, the Trinamool Congress said it reflected a “blatant disregard for justice”.
“The court got angry, waited, and yet no one came. We want to know what happened. Why is the opposition not responding? It has been more than 24 days and more than 570 hours since the CBI took over the investigation, what was the outcome? The entire country is wondering. This shows that the CBI is not taking the case seriously…,” said Trinamool Congress leader Chandrima Bhattacharya.
In two separate posts on X, the Trinamool Congress also attacked the BJP and the CPM.
“Today in the hearing of RG Kar case, the investigating officer and prosecutor from @CBI headquarters were missing. Isn’t this an outright insult to the victim? A blatant disregard for justice? Where are the demands for accountability? Have @BJP4India and @CPIM_WESTBENGAL lost their voices?” the party report posted.
“After 24 days of procrastination, CBI headquarters has not even bothered to send its investigating officer or prosecutor for the hearing of RG Kar case. This is nothing but a SABOTAGER OF JUSTICE!” he said in another message, adding that the CBI should stop “dragging its feet” and the BJP should take out a protest march against this.
The medical intern was raped and murdered in a seminar room of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and her body was found on August 9. Her autopsy report, which put the time of death between 3 and 5 am, revealed that several injuries were inflicted on her before she was suffocated to death.