Kolkata rape-murder LIVE: CBI to conduct polygraph test on RG Kar ex-principal, 4 others

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), that is investigating the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is set to conduct a polygraph test on Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the institution and four other people.

Unsatisfactory answers

The CBI decided to take the test after failing to get satisfactory answers from Ghosh even though he has been questioned for 88 hours in the span of week.

The agency will also conduct a polygraph test on two first-year PGT doctors whose fingerprints were found in the seminar hall where the trainee medic was allegedly raped and murdered. They were reportedly on duty along with the victim on the night of the crime and had dinner together before she retired to the seminar hall.

The CBI will also conduct polygraph test on a house staff member who was captured on CCTV while going from the first floor emergency to the third floor as well as an intern who reportedly interacted with the victim before she went the seminar hall.

Even though findings of polygraph test are not admissible in court, they help investigators get a lead on the case.

Delhi doctors withdraw protest

In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike over the rape and murder following an appeal by the Supreme Court.

Healthcare professionals across the country ceased work after the body of the medic, a junior doctor, was found in a seminar room of the West Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.

Non-emergency services, including OPD and diagnostics, were shut as medics, including resident doctors, of major central and Delhi government-run hospitals struck work on August 12 evening, causing hardships for patients and delay in treatment. Residest doctors, including those of Centre-run AIIMS, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Delhi government-run LNJP, Maulana azad Medical College, GTB Hospital and Indira Gandhi Hospital, resumed duties after two national bodies announced the end of the strike on Thursday evening. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) took the decision after the Supreme Court issued directions about the safety of healthcare personnel.

While it appealed to medics across the country to rejoin duty and assured that no coercive action will be taken against them, the top court also said judges and doctors cannot go on a strike since they deal with matters involving life and liberty.

Bengal doctors to continue stir

Except West Bengal, resident doctors' associations of all other states have called off their strike. In Bengal, the epicentre of the protests, healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals as agitating junior doctors have said they would continue their ceasework.

"We have decided to continue our ceasework because justice is yet to be delivered. The Supreme Court has avoided the justice part. We must not forget that getting justice for our sister is our prime goal," one of the protesting doctors told PTI.

Extremely disturbing: SC

During Thursday’s hearing of the case, the Supreme Court termed "extremely disturbing" the Kolkata Police's delay in registering the unnatural death of the woman doctor.

“Justice and medicine cannot be stopped,” the court said while hearing the suo-motu case.

The top court also directed the Centre and the states to take urgent steps to institutionalise the safety of medics across the country.

Court’s directions on safety of medics

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued a slew of directions on the safety of doctors, norms for protests, rights of protesters as well as the West Bengal government.

It said the National Task Force (NTF) formed by the apex court will take note of the suggestions of all the stakeholders while formulating a national protocol for the safety of healthcare professionals, including the associations representing resident doctors.

"We direct the secretary of the Union Ministry of Health to engage with the chief secretaries of the states and directors general of police to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals," the bench said, while ordering that the exercise be completed in a week.

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