Kolkata Rape Horror: CBI sees cover-up bid, says crime spot altered

New Delhi, August 22

The CBI on Thursday alleged in the Supreme Court that there was an attempt to cover up the rape and killing of the Kolkata doctor by the local police as the crime scene was altered by the time it took over the probe.

In its status report filed in the Supreme Court, the CBI said the parents of the victim were initially informed that it was a case of suicide. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, also flagged the delay in filing the FIR. He told a Bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that senior doctors of the hospital as well as the victim's colleagues had asked for videography, which meant even they felt that there was a cover-up.

“We initiated the probe on the fifth day. Before that, whatever was collected by the local police was given to us. The investigation itself was a challenge because the scene of offence was altered. The FIR was registered only after the (victim’s) cremation at 11:45 pm on August 9.

“First, the parents were informed by the deputy superintendent (of the hospital) that she was not well. When they reached the hospital, they were told that she had committed suicide,” Mehta told the Bench.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal Government, countered Mehta’s claims, saying everything at the crime scene was recorded on video and that nothing had been tampered with.

Meanwhile, the CBI on Thursday sought permission from a Kolkata court to conduct a polygraph test on former principal of the medical college Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors, who were on duty on the date of the incident. The agency claimed due to inconsistencies in Ghosh’s responses during questioning, they wanted to conduct a polygraph test on him. The CBI is also trying to find the person who spotted the body of the victim.

Seeks polygraph test on Ghosh

The CBI has sought permission from a Kolkata court to conduct polygraph test on ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh, citing inconsistencies in his responses during questioning.