The rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has grown increasingly complex as new allegations and contradictory claims continue to surface. Thus far, only one accused, Sanjay Roy, has been arrested. However, a video featuring the victim’s parents has raised fresh questions about the Kolkata Police’s handling of the case, adding to the confusion surrounding the tragic death.
Family Alleges Police Pressure
On Wednesday night, the victim’s parents joined the ongoing protests by doctors at RG Kar Hospital. They accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the investigation by hastily cremating their daughter’s body. According to the victim’s father, extraordinary pressure was placed on the family to proceed with the cremation.
“We wanted to keep the body of our daughter, but we were pressured into cremating her,” the father revealed during the protest. He further alleged that a senior police officer had approached him when his daughter’s body was brought home after the autopsy, offering him money in an apparent bid to silence him. “I gave him a piece of my mind and refused the money,” he said, though he did not clarify why the money was offered.
TMC Refutes Cover-up Allegations
West Bengal’s Women and Child Development Minister, Shashi Panja, addressed these claims at a press conference on Thursday, emphasizing that the government would not dissect or analyze the comments made by the grieving family.
“We respect what the family is saying—they have lost their daughter,” Panja said. She also urged the federal police, who took over the investigation last month, to expedite the probe and reveal the truth.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) firmly denied any accusations of a police cover-up, claiming that a newly surfaced video contradicted the family’s statements. In this video, the victim’s parents appeared to express satisfaction with the police investigation, refuting claims of bribery or coercion.
Family Responds to New Video
In response, the victim’s family insisted that the video was recorded under duress. They claimed that the police had forced them to participate in the video just days after the cremation, implying that the authorities were attempting to protect former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh.
“The video was shot by the police, and we were forced to comply. The truth is that the police tried to hush up the case and protect the former principal,” a family member told a local Bengali news channel.
Political Controversy Grows
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya entered the fray by posting the same video of the victim’s parents on social media. He accused the West Bengal government of using intimidation tactics to manipulate the family and cover up the crime.
“TMC hacks are circulating a video of the deceased RG Kar doctor’s family, claiming that WB Police didn’t offer them money. Now listen to the parents’ version,” Malviya posted on X (formerly Twitter). He alleged that the family had been threatened by the Kolkata Police, who promised to derail the investigation if they did not publicly deny the bribery allegations.
Protests Continue, Doctors Cease Work
The case has sparked widespread protests, with junior doctors in West Bengal staging a work stoppage. Shashi Panja expressed empathy for the doctors, acknowledging that their agitation was justified. “The doctors’ agitation is justified and should be treated with empathy. I believe they will return to work when the time is right,” Panja stated.
However, the West Bengal BJP countered, accusing the TMC government of attempting to silence the family and cover up the crime. BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya stated that the family’s recent statements had “exposed” the state government’s plan to hush up the case.
The death of the doctor on August 9 has triggered nationwide outrage, and the controversy continues to escalate as both sides trade accusations, making the path to justice for the victim increasingly convoluted.
