Kolkata rape-murder case: BJP alleges bid to tamper evidence; CBI team arrives at KG Kar Hospital

The BJP has hit out at the TMC government over the rape and murder of a woman doctor at a state-run hospital in West Bengal, with the state party chief alleging conspiracy and an attempt to destroy evidence. 

Suvendu Adhikari, state BJP chief and Leader of the opposition said the CBI should question former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, Dr SP Das, who is the personal physician of the Chief Minister, and Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. "Why did Sushanta Roy and Dr Abhik go there on August 9? To destroy evidence? The CBI should take steps immediately or the people will raise their voices. The BJP wants the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee in this issue as she handles health and home departments," Suvendu told ANI.

Adhikari, along with other BJP MLAs, protested inside the State Assembly against the government.  

Union Minister Nityanand Rai too lashed out at Mamata Banerjee's government, stating it wanted to divert attention from the issue. "CBI will actively investigate the matter and will work so that the culprits get the punishment," he said.

The party has been accusing the TMC and government of attempting to shield the perpetrators of crime, referring to reports that the deceased doctor's family had to wait for three hours before they were shown the body of their daughter. 

Party spokesperson Gaura Bhatia questioned Banerjee's statement that she would transfer the case in a few days when the first 48 hours were important for evidence collection. "Was she trying to protect anyone," Bhatia added.

Meanwhile, a team of senior CBI officers, who reached Kolkata on Wednesday morning, began its investigation into the crime. The team had medical and forensic experts who collected evidence. 

The CBI has formed three groups to investigate the case. While the first group will visit the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and talk to the witnesses and the doctors who were on duty on that night, the next will handle the accused. The third team will coordinate with the Kolkata Police sleuths who were conducting the investigation.

A CBI official told PTI that the agency has filed an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the alleged rape and murder. "Today, our officers will seek the call details of the deceased woman and those on duty on that day. They may submit the FIR in a local court," another central agency source said.

Meanwhile, the accused Sanjoy Roy was handed over to the CBI by Kolkata Police on Wednesday after his medical tests at state-run SSKM Hospital. Roy was brought to the RG Kar Hospital for evidence collection.