CBI begins lie detection tests in doctor murder case, polygraph analysis of key accused postponed

MP, 24 August 2024, Kolkata  : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday began lie detection tests on former RG Kar Medical and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and five others as part of their probe into the rape-murder of a woman medic at the institute and also registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at the same facility, officials said. 

The polygraph test on arrested key accused Sanjay Roy was postponed due to technical issues and the central probe agency will determine a new date soon, they added. "The polygraph tests are being conducted on Ghosh and five others, including interns, doctors, and a person connected to Roy. 

Technical glitches prevented civic volunteer Roy's test from being conducted as scheduled. We will soon decide when to carry out the test," an officer said. 

A CBI source said the test on Roy may be held on Sunday at the Presidency Correctional Home, where he is currently lodged. Due to the time-consuming nature of the polygraph tests and the limited availability of devices — only two are currently available — it may take a few more days for the CBI to complete testing all seven persons involved, the source added. 

Additionally, on Saturday, the CBI interrogated over 15 people, including 10 police officers and civic volunteers, as part of their ongoing investigation into the brutal rape murder of the medic. On the same day, the school education department in West Bengal issued showcause notices to three educational institutions - Baluhati High School, Baluhati Girls' High School, and Bantra Rajlakshmi Girls' School - for involving students in a rally during school hours in protest against the crime. The schools were given 24 hours to respond to the notices. 

According to a school education department official, the rally, which took place on Thursday, involved not only students but also teachers and non-teaching staff and was conducted in violation of regulations. 

Meanwhile, the CPI(M) student, youth, and women wings organised a rally in Kolkata, protesting against the alleged notices issued by the police to some of their leaders in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. 

The West Bengal state committees of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) led the march from College Street to Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar. Police put up barricades to halt the march midway. 

In another demonstration, over 200 Jadavpur University alumni rallied from the university's main gate to Golpark, calling for a swift investigation, the arrest of those involved, and a fast-track trial. On the same day, approximately 300 app-based cab drivers in Kolkata staged a protest rally from Rashbehari Crossing to Esplanade, organised by the Leftist trade union CITU, condemning the crime. 

Earlier in the day, a team of senior state health department officials visited the hospital to meet the protesting junior doctors and urge them to resume work. The ongoing strike, which has lasted 16 days, has severely disrupted healthcare services across West Bengal. 

On Thursday, the Supreme Court had requested the protesting doctors to resume their duties and directed that no coercive action be taken against them. The state government had also appealed to the junior doctors to return to work to address the large number of patients at state-run hospitals. In response to the doctors' demands, the state government removed three senior RGKMCH officials on Wednesday and cancelled the transfer of former principal Ghosh to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. 

The incident, which involves the rape murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9, has sparked widespread outrage both in India and internationally. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested the following day for his alleged involvement in the crime. 

The CBI took over the investigation from Kolkata Police last week, following an order from the Calcutta High Court. Meanwhile, the agency on Saturday registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. 

It took over the investigation from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the West Bengal government on the directions of Calcutta High Court. The Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks. 

The High Court had given the directive for a CBI probe on the plea of former deputy superintendent of the hospital Akhtar Ali who had alleged financial irregularities in the hospital during the tenure of its former principal Sandip Ghosh and sought a probe by the central agencies. 

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