Suspension of three IPS officers in RG Kar case extended by 120 days

The West Bengal government has extended the suspension of three IPS officers by another 120 days in connection with the RG Kar rape-murder case. The move aims to ensure an impartial departmental probe as the CBI continues its fresh investigation

Kolkata: The suspension period of three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers accused of dereliction of duty in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, within the hospital premises in August 2024, on Monday was extended by another 120 days.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the suspension of the three accused IPS officers in the case, namely the-then Commissioner of Kolkata Police, Vineet Kumar Goyal, the-then Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division) Abhishek Gupta and the-then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) of the city police, Indira Mukherjee, on May 15 and also ordered a departmental probe against all three of them.

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Now, on Monday, their suspension period has been extended by another 120 days, and according to insiders in the state secretariat, Nabanna, the suspension extension has been done to ensure a proper and influence-free departmental probe against the IPS officers.

Already, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formed a new Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a fresh probe into the ghastly rape and murder case of the doctor.

The members of the new SIT interrogated Gupta and Mukherjee last month and recorded their statements.

After the body of the woman doctor — whose mother, Ratna Debnath, is currently a BJP legislator from Panihati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district — was recovered from within the R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9, 2024, there were massive protests throughout the state involving representatives from the medical fraternity and the civil society, celebrities and common people.

Gradually, the waves of protests went beyond West Bengal’s borders to other states and subsequently to other countries. Demands for the immediate resignation of Goyal and Gupta for shoddy handling of the investigation were made.

At that time, Mukherjee interacted with the media and was accused of passing on misleading information through press conferences addressed by her.

Finally, in the face of immense public pressure, Mamata Banerjee transferred Goyal and Gupta, but retained Mukherjee as the Deputy Commissioner of Police (central division).

Finally, on May 15 this year, days after taking charge as the new West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari announced the reopening of RG Kar files by the state administration, suspension of the three accused IPS officers and the initiation of a departmental probe against them.