Twist in Kolkata Doctor murder case: BJP releases new video of victim’s parents

PTC News Desk: The rape-murder case of a trainee doctor from Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is becoming increasingly complex, with fresh allegations against the Kolkata Police and the involvement of political parties intensifying the situation. Sanjay Roy, the sole accused, has been arrested, but new developments, including videos of the victim’s parents, have raised questions about the investigation’s integrity.

Victim’s Family Accuses Police of Suppression

The victim’s family, joining protests alongside doctors at RG Kar hospital, accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to suppress the case. They claim the police rushed the cremation of their daughter’s body against their wishes. The father of the deceased expressed frustration during the protest, saying, “We wanted to keep the body of our daughter, but extraordinary pressure was mounted on us, and the body was cremated.”

He further alleged that a senior police officer offered him money when his daughter’s body was returned after the autopsy. “I gave him a piece of my mind and refused to take any money,” the father said, although he did not clarify why the money was offered.

Allegations of Police Misconduct

West Bengal’s Women and Child Development Minister, Shashi Panja, addressed these concerns during a press conference on Thursday. While refraining from criticizing the victim’s family, Panja urged the federal police, which took over the case last month, to expedite the investigation and reveal the truth.

“We respect what the family is saying—they have lost their daughter,” Panja stated, but she also warned against allowing political pressure to influence the investigation. She emphasized that the government did not wish to “postmortem” the parents’ statements, urging for a swift resolution of the case.

TMC Refutes Cover-Up Accusations

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) quickly denied allegations of a cover-up, pointing to a recently surfaced video that appeared to show the victim’s family satisfied with the police investigation. TMC claimed this video contradicted the family’s current stance.

However, the family responded swiftly, alleging that the video was recorded under duress by the police shortly after the cremation. Speaking to a Bengali news channel, they stated, “The video was shot by the police just days after the incident, and we were forced to participate.” They further accused the police of attempting to protect former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh.

Minister Panja dismissed the allegations of police misconduct, reiterating that a second video had surfaced in which the parents themselves denied ever being offered money. The authenticity of these videos, played during a TMC press conference, has not been independently verified.

“We cannot imagine the pain of the grieving parents. The incident is extremely unfortunate, and we have all been demanding justice for the victim,” Panja said, while appealing to avoid politicizing the tragedy. “There shouldn’t be political pressure on the parents to say or do anything.”

BJP Enters the Fray

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has escalated the issue by sharing a video of the victim’s parents, adding fuel to the controversy. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted the clip online, accusing the TMC and Kolkata Police of coercing the family into participating in a cover-up.

“TMC hacks are circulating a video of the deceased RG Kar doctor’s family, claiming that West Bengal Police didn’t offer any money to them. Now, listen to the parents’ version,” Malviya wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He went on to allege that the Kolkata Police threatened the parents to derail the investigation if they didn’t deny the bribery allegations on camera.

Malviya further accused the Kolkata Police of conducting a sham investigation, claiming that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s administration was pressuring the grieving family. “The parents, who had just lost a 31-year-old daughter, were being hounded by Vineet Goyal and his team of officers on the instructions of Mamata Banerjee,” he said.

Nationwide Protests and Doctors’ Agitation

The death of the trainee doctor on August 9 has triggered widespread protests, with junior doctors across West Bengal ceasing work in solidarity. Panja expressed her support for the doctors, describing their agitation as justified, but she expressed hope that they would resume their duties once the situation stabilises.

“The agitation by the doctors is justified and should be treated with empathy. Surely, they will return to work when they feel the time is right,” Panja added.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders have accused the state government of trying to suppress the case, with BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya stating, “The TMC government has done everything to cover this up. The family’s statement has exposed the TMC and the police.”

As the investigation continues and political parties trade accusations, the case has captured national attention, with many demanding justice for the victim and transparency in the probe.

Also Read: New twist in Kolkata doctor murder case, parents allege police bribery attempt