Kolkata:The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officers have resumed their probe in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case of a 31-year-old post-graduate student today and summoned the college’s former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh for the fourth consecutive day for questioning, while Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy approached the Calcutta High Court seeking reprieve against arrest.
Approaching the court of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, the TMC MP said in his petition that he was anticipating arrest and hyper-activity on part of the Kolkata Police. Roy has said in his petition that he was seeking reprieve from arrest and has assured all cooperation with law enforcing authorities in their probe. The petition has been accepted and the matter is expected to be heard by Justice Bharadwaj tomorrow.
Roy has been extremely vocal against the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government and particularly against the Kolkata Police since the incident of the rape and murder came to light and also regarding the “Reclaim the Night” protest call of women on the intervening night of August 14 and 15. He has also written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 16, “demanding a stringent and comprehensive Central Act to prevent atrocities against women.”
On August 18, Roy took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “ CBI must act fairly. Custodial interrogation of ex-Principal and Police Commissioner is a must to know who and why the suicide story was floated. Why wall of hall demolished, who patronised Roy to be so powerful, why sniffer dog used after 3 days. 100s of such questions. Make them speak.”
The Rajya Sabha MP also expressed solidarity with the football fans of East Bengal and Mohun Bahan, who took to the streets yesterday demanding justice for the RG Kar Medical College victim. “I appeal to all football and sports lovers to protest unitedly against the arbitrary arrests of supporters of Mohunbagan and East Bengal in a peaceful and democratic manner. Jai Mohunbagan! Jai East Bengal!” Roy said on X.
In a never-seen scenario, supporters of arch-rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, two biggest football clubs of the city, took to the streets yesterday protesting against police denial to provide security cover for the Durand Cup Kolkata derby scheduled on Sunday, which prompted the organisers to call off the much-anticipated match. They also briefly clashed with the police and brought the city to a virtual standstill for more than four hours as they blocked the EM Bypass demanding justice for the RG Kar Hospital victims. Supporters of Mohammedan Sporting Club also joined the protests.
TMC leader and former party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, however, rejected his party MP’s views and said, the police were doing its job in warning people against spreading misinformation.
“It is ridiculous to spread word that the police are taking action whenever there is a social media protest post. If you think you will protest, you can do it a hundred times, or a thousand times, but in proper language and with logic. But, the police will definitely warn you if you spread wrong information, distorted assumptions, fake audio, purposeful inciting posts, reveal names and photographs of the deceased,” Ghosh said on his X handle.