RG Kar hearing: SC to continue live-streaming; Wikipedia told to remove victim’s details

The Supreme Court, after perusing the status report filed by the CBI on the rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, directed the CBI on Tuesday (September 17) to submit a further status report on the probe into the alleged financial irregularities at the institution during the next hearing.

A postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and murdered in the state-run hospital on August 9. So far, three persons have been arrested in connection with the case. The top court refused to disclose the status report, saying it would jeopardise further investigation.

No block on live-streaming

The court also refused to stop live-streaming of the proceedings in the suo-motu case related to the incident, saying it was a matter of public interest and the public must know what is transpiring in the courtroom.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said this in reply to a plea made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, seeking the stopping of live-streaming. He alleged that women lawyers of the chamber were facing threats of acid attacks and rapes.

The top court assured Sibal that it would step in if there were any threats to lawyers and others.

Court’s direction to Wikipedia

The Solicitor General, appearing for the CBI, submitted that Wikipedia was still showing the name and photo of the victim. The top court then directed Wikipedia to remove the name of the victim.

“In the interest of maintaining the dignity and privacy of the deceased, the governing principle is that the identity of the victim in a rape-and-murder case shall not be disclosed. Wikipedia shall take steps to comply with the previous order passed,” the Bench said.

Court seeks status report on financial irregularities case

The top court also said that nobody can say that the CBI destroyed anything related to the crime, scene or the 27 minutes of CCTV camera footage.

Kolkata Police told the court that nothing related to the crime, including the CCTV footage, remains with them and everything has been handed over to the CBI.

The apex court asked the CBI to file a status report on the probe so far on the alleged financial irregularities in medical departments.

The hearing is currently underway.

The RG Kar hospital case

The medic’s body with severe injury marks was found on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day.

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, which started its investigation on August 14.

The CBI on Saturday arrested former principal of RG Kar medical college, Sandip Ghosh, and Tala police station officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal. While Ghosh was already in custody in relation to alleged financial irregularities at the hospital, he has also been accused of evidence tampering.

Mondal has been arrested under charges of tampering with evidence, delaying registration of the FIR, and other related offences.

(With agency inputs)