Kolkata Doctor’s Parents Accuse Police of Bribery After Murder

Kolkata Doctor’s Family Alleges Senior Police Official Offered Them Money When Daughter’s Body Was Handed Over

Kolkata:

The parents of a Kolkata doctor who was brutally raped and murdered last month have accused the police of attempting to bribe them in an effort to suppress the case. The incident occurred during the doctor’s night shift, sparking widespread protests across the state, with demands for swift and decisive action.

The 31-year-old doctor’s parents participated in a protest at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where their daughter’s body was discovered on August 9. They accused the police of trying to close the case without a thorough investigation.

“The police tried to cover up the case from the very beginning. We weren’t allowed to see the body and were made to wait at the police station while it was sent for post-mortem,” the doctor’s father said while addressing the protest.

He added, “Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police officer offered us money, which we immediately refused.”

The parents have joined the protests to support the junior doctors in their fight for justice for their daughter.

The Kolkata Police has faced intense criticism from both the Opposition and the public for its handling of the high-profile case. Concerns have been raised about how the accused, Sanjoy Roy, had unrestricted access to all areas of the state-run hospital at any time. Reports suggest that he was involved in illegal activities, such as arranging hospital beds and other facilities for patients in exchange for bribes.

Protesters have taken to social media and the streets, with slogans directed at the police, reminding them of their responsibilities and urging empathy, noting that they, too, have daughters. These messages have been prominently displayed on placards during the street marches.

Amid growing public outrage, the Calcutta High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the case. On Monday, the CBI arrested Dr. Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, for alleged financial misconduct at the institution.

This week, the West Bengal Assembly also passed an anti-rape bill, which seeks the death penalty for rape convicts if the crime results in the victim’s death or leaves her in a vegetative state.