KOLKATA: The parents of the 31-year-old post-graduate trainee who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 last year have accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of failing to prevent the alleged tampering of evidence in the case. They claim the police, hospital authorities, and members of the ruling TMC actively tried to suppress the truth.
“Kolkata Police, the hospital administration, and people's representatives from the ruling TMC - played an active role to hush up the ghastly incident so that truth does not come to light," the victim’s mother stated in an interview.
The trial court recently sentenced Sanjay Roy, the lone convict in the case, to life imprisonment until death. However, the victim’s parents allege that the CBI failed to bring all perpetrators to justice and overlooked a larger conspiracy.
"The CM cannot disown the failure of Kolkata Police, hospital, and the administration," the victim’s mother said, emphasizing that Banerjee, who also holds the police and health portfolios, must answer for the alleged lapses.
“The CM has to explain why the crime scene could not be sealed and the evidence was tampered with by the entry of a large number of onlookers. The CM has to explain why from the footage of 68 people moving in the area on August 9 morning till midday, only one person, Sanjay Roy, was identified as the sole perpetrator of the crime,” she added.
The victim’s father also accused the CBI and Kolkata Police of conducting a "shoddy investigation" to shield others involved in the crime. "These matters were not properly addressed by the CBI despite our testimony to the agency," he said.
Responding to the allegations, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh described the comments as “unfortunate” and alleged they were influenced by forces aiming to defame the state government.
"It was the CM under whose instruction Kolkata Police hastened up investigation immediately after the incident and arrested Sanjay Roy. She had given a week to Kolkata Police to wrap up the probe. But the probe was handed over to the CBI on an order of the Calcutta High Court," Ghosh stated.
He also highlighted the state police’s record in ensuring convictions in other rape-murder cases, including capital punishment for the convicted. "I do not want to engage in a war of words with grief-stricken parents," he added.