Justice JB Pardiwala on Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: "We Have Not Seen Such a Case in the Last 30 Years"

The case of rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital (Kolkata Rape-Murder Case) is being heard in the Supreme Court today. During the hearing, the apex court strongly commented on the attitude of Kolkata Police in this case. Justice JB Pardiwala said, “We have not seen such a case in the last 30 years.” The Supreme Court also questioned the difference between the status report of the CBI and the investigation report of the Kolkata Police and called the attitude of the Kolkata Police suspicious.

Justice Pardiwala said, “The procedure followed by the police in criminal law is not the one that the CrPC follows or I have seen in my 30 years. So is it true that the post-mortem was done after the UD report?”

Justice Pardiwala said that the conduct of the Assistant Superintendent of Police is also very suspicious.

During the hearing, the CBI claimed in the Supreme Court that the crime scene was damaged and evidence was destroyed. This argument of the CBI was opposed by the lawyer of the West Bengal government. When the court asked the CBI where the medical examination report was, the CBI said that our problem was that we got the investigation report 5 days after the incident. Along with this, the CBI said that the crime scene was damaged and evidence would also be destroyed.

The CJI asked where is the medical examination report of the accused. On this, CBI's lawyer Solicitor General said that it has not been given to us. On this, the Bengal government's lawyer Kapil Sibal said that it is part of the case diary and has been submitted. The SG said that we entered the crime scene on the 5th day and starting a CBI investigation is a challenge and the crime scene has been changed.

Earlier, the Supreme Court said that if the doctors do not return to work, they will be considered absent. The law will work according to itself. The AIIMS Doctors Association said on this, “We are being harassed. We were in protest.”

The CJI said that if you are on duty then it is fine, if not then the law will do its work. You first return to work. CJI Chandrachud said that doctors should return to work. We have formed an expert committee. Doctors should join duty, people are waiting for them.