"Attempt of cover-up in Kolkata rape-murder": Ex-President of Bengal Doctors Forum calls for thorough probe

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], September 2 : Dr Arjun Dasgupta, former President of West Bengal Doctors Forum and senior ENT surgeon, alleged an attempt of cover-up in connection with the case of rape and murder of trainee doctor at RG KAR Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
"We want justice," Dr Dasgupta stated while speaking to ANI on Monday and added, "There is a sense of great injustice being done. Our primary demands include a thorough investigation by a sitting judge, which we have achieved through the Kolkata High Court's intervention. The High Court has handed the case over to the CBI, which is their prerogative. However, the Supreme Court has also taken a keen interest, with a three-judge bench now overseeing the matter. Our demands are still there."
Highlighting three major concerns, Dr Dasgupta said, "The CBI is doing their job. The Kolkata Police had arrested one person on day one, and he's still in custody. So that stands. But the sense of conspiracy behind, we had three questions basically. Number one, who, one or multiple person who did it, they should be arrested. Number two, what was the situation of RG Kar Hospital which enabled these villains or these horrible people to do such a thing? I mean, nobody will have the guts to do it anywhere. So where did they get this guts, if there's something behind it. And number three, what we doctors' were suspecting from day one, there is an attempt of cover up that should be investigated thoroughly as well."
He emphasized that these issues need urgent attention to ensure justice and also expressed frustration over the delay in updates from the CBI or the state police regarding the investigation.
"It's already 21 days. We need some answers. In all high-profile cases, the police or the CBI holds press conferences and gives their progress report. So we haven't got anything for the last 22 days. That's a big anguish. I do understand this is a very sensitive case. This is a very politically sensitive case. So probably everybody is looking at all the legal parameters and what are the legal fallouts of this case and they should consider it," he said while speaking to ANI.
"This is not the doctors anymore. All the people all over the country. Doctors were on the street. In Kolkata and in West Bengal, things haven't changed at all. In fact, the anguish and anger is increasing day by day," Dr Dasgupta added.
The former president of the West Bengal Doctors' Forum also alleged corruption and malpractice within the Bengal health system with RG Kar Hospital at the epicenter.
"We the doctors' forum is fighting against health mafia and nexus in most of the Bengal health system and hospitals, medical colleges. So there were allegations of money being exchanged for pass mark, money being exchanged for honors marks and about posting, about transfer. So there was a huge next step going on, and their epicenter was RG KAR, and this guy called Sandeep Ghosh. So we were saying against him, and the people who went against him, he tried to silence them. He fought against two interns to whom he didn't give their internship completion certificate. They have to go to court, and one of our organization has stood beside them and they could complete their internship. So there was a criminal, what you said, it is a criminal nexus, was very much active in RG Kar," he claimed.
Dr Dasgupta further urged the Supreme Court and CBI to address the alleged cover-up. "And our honest request to Supreme Court, in fact our demand to the Supreme Court and the CBI is you should get all the truth out, however big. What was the next step here? Why is everybody trying to hide things? That answer we really need to know," he said.
The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Hospital on August 9. The incident sparked protests across the country with doctors demanding justice for the victim and enhanced security measures for healthcare professionals. The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken up the case from the Kolkata police following a Calcutta High Court directive. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer at the hospital, has been arrested in connection with the incident.