On August 9, at 10:53 AM, the parents of a junior doctor in Kolkata received a call saying, “Your daughter is ill; please come to the medical college quickly.” Shortly after, they got another call saying, “Your daughter has committed suicide; come to the hospital.” The Supreme Court recently asked the West Bengal government why and who informed the victim’s parents that she had committed suicide at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Initial Information vs. Reality
According to Times of India, a fellow doctor of the victim said the command to tell the parents that their daughter had committed suicide came from the office of the former principal, Sandeep Ghosh. Initially, the assistant superintendent’s office called the parents to say the daughter was ill. Then, a short while later, another call claimed she had committed suicide.
Why Was the Suicide Claim Made?
Hospital sources say that the order to inform the parents about the suicide came from the former principal’s office. The parents and some doctors are questioning why they were told the victim committed suicide when the evidence clearly showed she was raped and murdered.
Delay in Informing the Parents
The victim’s colleagues pointed out that the body was first seen around 9 AM by a trainee doctor on duty. This trainee informed senior doctors, who then notified the hospital management. However, the parents were only informed about the death two hours later. Colleagues are also questioning why there was a delay in notifying the parents and why Principal Sandeep Ghosh called a meeting in the seminar hall immediately after the body was found. This meeting, involving two other doctors, occurred before the police were notified.
Sandeep Ghosh’s Role and CBI Investigation
Dr. Ghosh resigned from his position as principal shortly after the rape and murder incident. Opposition parties claim that the SIT was set up to ensure Ghosh would reveal crucial information during CBI questioning. Notably, just hours after Ghosh’s resignation, he was appointed principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH), leading to protests from students and junior doctors. He was eventually removed from this position as well.
The CBI has been questioning Sandeep Ghosh for the past six days, but no official statement has been released regarding the outcomes of this interrogation.
