We're 'disturbed' by findings of CBI's RG Kar report: SC

NEW DELHI: In a setback to West Bengal government, Supreme Court on Tuesday said it was "very disturbed" by the status report of the CBI probe finding serious faults with the way Kolkata Police collected evidence and secured the crime scene in RG Kar Hospital where a doctor was raped and murdered on Aug 9.

A bench led by CJI D Y Chandrachud made this observation after the counsel for the original petitioner before Calcutta HC accused state police of employing a bizarre process for search and seizure, and alleged that the crime scene was deliberately left unguarded to let vandals destroy vital evidence. "What you are flagging is of the utmost concern. CBI itself is very concerned that this has happened," CJI told the counsel.

"CBI is investigating... whether there was tampering with the scene of crime, whether evidence was destroyed and whether any other person (apart from those arrested) was involved," SC said.

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CBI line of probe indicates justice will be done: Supreme Court
It will be unwise for us to reveal anything at this stage, which may enable suspects to destroy evidence. Making a disclosure today of what the CBI is doing will jeopardise the course of investigation. We cannot also disclose the lines of further investigation of CBI," the SC bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.

The bench assured the parents of the victim and the resident doctors, who have been agitating for justice since the crime, that the line of investigation indicated that justice would be done, and the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to book.

"We can assure you that the line of further investigation which is being carried out by CBI is intended to unearth the absolute truth and further truth and any further leads that may emerge apart from the accused who have been arrested. We will keep it at that so as not to jeopardise the investigations," the bench said, its comment appearing significant in view of Trinamool's frequent sniping at the premier investigating agency.

Appearing for senior doctors of RG Kar and other hospitals in Kolkata, senior advocate Karuna Nundy said senior doctors had evidence in their possession that clearly established a link between the heinous crime and financial irregularities. The bench asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta to instruct CBI to file probe status report before the SC on the next date.

"Apart from the principal, the SHO has been arrested. He is in the custody of CBI and very significant pieces of evidence may be revealed during the investigation. CBI has responded specifically to the queries which all of us raised during the last hearing, including whether the 'challan' and statutory form were submitted for post-mortem, what document was submitted by Kolkata Police for the purpose of post-mortem," the bench said.


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