The Calcutta High Court has directed the parents of the trainee doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024 to approach the Trial Court with a request allowing their newly appointed counsel to visit the scene of the crime—excluding the seminar room where the incident occurred.

Justice Tirthankar Ghosh passed the direction while noting that regular progress reports in the case are already being submitted before the trial court, and that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the case, raised no objections to the request.

However, the State’s senior counsel opposed the plea, arguing that without a formal prayer for further investigation or reinvestigation, the writ court had no jurisdiction to grant such relief. It was also submitted that the victim’s counsel had no statutory right to inspect the crime scene unless the investigation was reopened, which would require the parents to challenge the current findings of the CBI.

In view of these submissions, the High Court relegated the matter to the jurisdictional court and asked the parties to file an appropriate application before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), Sealdah, for necessary orders.

Case Background

The brutal rape and murder of the young doctor sparked national outrage, leading to widespread protests in Kolkata and across India. In response to growing public pressure, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation from the West Bengal CID to the CBI through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The CBI subsequently filed a chargesheet before the Sessions Court.

The case also reached the Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognizance and began framing guidelines for ensuring workplace safety for medical professionals, in addition to monitoring the ongoing investigation.

Apart from the main case, the High Court also handed over to the CBI inquiries into alleged corruption and cover-up attempts by former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and the Officer-in-Charge of the local police station. The police had initially registered the case as one of ‘unnatural death’, allegedly attempting to portray the incident as a suicide, reportedly in collusion with the college administration.

Due to delays in filing chargesheets, both the former principal and the police officer were granted bail. The only accused against whom the CBI completed its investigation was Sanjoy Roy, who has since been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court.

Case Title: X and Anr vs Union of India and Ors
WPA/30365/2024