Kolkata RG Kar case: 3 IPS officers suspended over alleged lapses in 2024 trainee doctor murder probe

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday suspended three IPS officers, including former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal, in connection with the rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024. Departmental proceedings will be initiated against all three officers.

The three suspended IPS officers, apart from Vineet Kumar Goyal, are then Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division) Abhishek Gupta and then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Indira Mukherjee.

The Chief Minister said the role of the former chief minister and other ministers will also be reviewed.


“The main investigation will be conducted by the CBI and will continue under court jurisdiction, while we will look into the state government’s role, which will not affect the central agency’s probe,” the CM clarified.

“Under the leadership of the Chief Secretary, along with the Home Secretary, fact-finding work has been undertaken over the past few days. Based on that, administrative action is being taken for mishandling of the RG Kar case, including the failure to lodge a proper FIR, pointing to lapses by senior police officials. The role of other police officers in allegedly offering cash to the victim’s family is also being examined,” the CM said.

“The versions of the victim’s family and the police will be verified, along with the role and instructions given by any minister and others,” the CM added.

Adhikari claimed there was an attempt to pay money to the victim’s family. “Based on media reports, we learnt that the victim’s mother was offered money by the state government,” he said.

“Everything will be investigated. Who spoke to whom at that time and what WhatsApp messages were exchanged will be probed. Call records will also be examined. It will be investigated whether the then chief minister or any other former state minister had spoken in the matter,” Adhikari added.

He said that despite not being the official spokesperson of Kolkata Police, a deputy commissioner had addressed the media on the matter. “The police force is a disciplined force. The officer’s body language and choice of words were inappropriate. Someone may have verbally instructed her to make public statements after the RG Kar case. All of this is subject to investigation. For now, three officers have been suspended and departmental probes initiated against them,” he said.

“Abhishek Gupta had tried to offer money when my daughter’s body was lying in RG Kar. We were told to remain silent. I respect the new Chief Minister as he has taken action,” Abhaya’s mother, who is also a BJP MLA from Panihati, said.

Abhaya’s father said, “This action could have been taken during the previous chief minister’s tenure, but no action was taken then. I would like to thank the present Chief Minister.”