Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Case Over RG Kar Hospital Doctor's Rape & Murder; Hearing On August 20

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will hear the matter on August 20. The case is titled "In Re : Alleged Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata and related issues."

The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found in the R.G. Kar Hospital's seminar room on August 9. The Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer the next day in connection with the case.

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation.

"The parents of the victim have an apprehension that if the investigation is allowed to continue in this manner, it will derail. Therefore they pray for extraordinary relief. One more disturbing aspect is that a case of unnatural death was registered. It is submitted that such cases are registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint. There has been no significant progress in the investigation. The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement. Without significant progress in the investigation, we would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim's parents that evidence would be destroyed. Therefore we transfer the investigation to the CBI to do justice between parties and to inspire public confidence," the High Court bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya.