Kolkata: CBI arrests police officer; senior cop commends ‘transparent’ investigation

PTC News Desk: Abhijit Mondal, the officer-in-charge of the Tala police station in Kolkata who was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was praised by a senior Kolkata Police official for conducting a “transparent” investigation.

Mondal, who was arrested on Saturday, faces allegations of delaying the First Information Report (FIR) by at least 14 hours in relation to the suspected rape and murder of a trainee doctor. He was taken into custody alongside Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, who was already in CBI custody due to alleged financial irregularities at the institution.

V. Solomon Nesakumar, Additional Commissioner of Kolkata Police, spoke to reporters on Monday, emphasising his belief in Mondal’s integrity. “We met with Abhijit Mondal’s family and assured them of our full support. The police department stands by them as a family,” Nesakumar said.

“Personally, I believe he is not guilty. His actions were driven by good intentions. He reached the scene promptly, conducted a transparent investigation, and acted in the interest of justice.”

The incident in question occurred on August 9, when a trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College, which falls under Mondal’s jurisdiction.

On Sunday, the court extended Ghosh’s and Mondal’s custody to the CBI until September 17. The CBI is investigating both the rape-murder case and the financial irregularities at RG Kar, following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, which criticized the Kolkata Police for its handling of the investigation.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to resume its suo motu hearing on Tuesday, with the CBI expected to present a fresh status report on its investigation.