Supreme Court to hear RG Kar rape and murder case today amid massive protests in Kolkata
The Supreme Court will hear the case related to the brutal rape and murder of the female doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Monday.
The body of the doctor was recovered from the hospital on August 9, triggering massive protests across West Bengal with doctors and civilians taking out rallies and demonstrating regularly in Kolkata to demand justice for the victim.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is expected to oversee the proceedings in the apex court on Monday.
The hearing will take place a day after the third 'Reclaim the Night' campaign was held in Kolkata with people demanding justice for the doctor and also questioning the role of the government and police in the incident.
Apart from the campaign, thousands of people from different walks of life, including doctors, students, rickshaw pullers and artisans, shouted slogans demanding justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim with Kolkata witnessing multiple rallies across various points in the city on Sunday.
According to media reports, over 4000 former students of various schools in Kolkata walked in south Kolkata's Rashbehari Avenue over the incident which has triggered massive demonstrations in the state and across the nation for the past month.
Holding placards and banners in their hands, shouting slogans, former students belonging to different age groups were seen walking together down the busy street in South Kolkata.
In another rally, held from Rabindra Sarani to Shyambazar's five-point crossing in north Kolkata, clay artisans took out a rally over the crime which has put the ruling government in West Bengal in troubled waters.
The clay artisans spend busy days during this period of the year when they create idols of the goddess Durga ahead of the annual Hindu festival.
In the heart of the city, junior doctors of NRS Medical College and Hospital took out a rally from Sealdah to Esplanade.
Though the RG Kar case is now being probed by the CBI, the state administration is facing public anger over its slow progress in the case until it was handed over to the premier investigating agency under the central government.
Despite civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy's arrest in connection with the case, junior doctors, who are on a ceasework, as well as the victim's parents suspect more people are involved in the case.
The CBI had arrested RG Kar Medical College and Hospital principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh in connection with the financial irregularities in the state-run hospital.
The CBI has ruled out gangrape in the RG Kar case and said that available evidence indicates only Sanjay Roy, arrested by the Kolkata Police, was involved in the crime,
The CBI was handed over the case after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction and pointed out several lapses in the investigation by the Kolkata Police.