Mamata Banerjee's political journey took off in West Bengal after raising the issue of a woman's harassment in 1992. Now, 32 years later, a gruesome incident involving a woman in Bengal has put Mamata Banerjee's 13-year political rule to its toughest test. The state government, certain decisions, and the entire administrative machinery are all under scrutiny.
Although the CBI is now investigating the rape and murder of a trainee female doctor at RG Kar Medical College on the night of August 8-9, the Bengal police's mishandling of the case in the first five days led the Chief Justice to comment that such negligence hadn't been seen in 30 years. This indicated significant doubt about Kolkata police's involvement in this case.
The Kolkata police under Mamata Banerjee's administration, their investigation methods, and the safety measures are all in question. Is the same Mamata Banerjee, who once sought justice for an abused child 32 years ago, now ensnared in the biggest scrutiny of her rule concerning another heinous incident?
Did the Police Neglect the Case Investigation?
On the night of August 8-9, during the rape and murder of the trainee female doctor in RG Kar Medical College, the Supreme Court did not find Kolkata police trustworthy for investigating such cases. The police were also deemed incapable of ensuring the doctor's safety. Now, the police's initial five-day probe is criticized for extreme neglect. Even Durga Puja organizing committees are withdrawing government aid, showcasing the lack of trust in the Bengal government's intentions.
Source: aajtak
Mamata's Sit-in at Writers' Building
In the past, when the CPM was in power, Mamata Banerjee staged a sit-in at Writers' Building to protest for a mute and deaf rape victim. Mamata aimed to demonstrate that the rule of law had ended during the Left's regime. Police forcibly removed her from the premises, and it is said that this incident drove her resolve to only return to Writers' Building as the ruler.
Mamata Demands Death Penalty for Accused
In 2011, Mamata Banerjee formed her government with the TMC party but faced accusations of politicizing women's issues. In 2012, a woman was raped in Kolkata’s posh Park Street area, which Mamata termed as fabricated and a conspiracy against her government. In 2013, during the Kamduni gang rape protests, Mamata claimed CPM sponsored the demonstrations. In 2022, she called the Hanskhali rape case a love affair. Despite her statements, Mamata continued to assert her pursuit of justice. In 2013, she even met with rape victims' families on a bike ride, now demanding the death penalty for the accused upon meeting the victim's family again.
Mamata Writes to PM Modi
Although Bengal's government and its machinery are under scrutiny, Mamata has written to the Prime Minister, demanding fast-track courts for rapid trial completion within 15 days for all rape cases. This raises the question: Is Mamata trying to shelve the questions being raised from the Supreme Court to the streets of Kolkata with her demand letter?
Source: aajtak
Did CBI’s Status Report Expose Police Negligence?
If the Supreme Court hadn't intervened, no one would have known about Kolkata police's initial five-day cover-up attempt. Bengal’s Home Minister Mamata Banerjee directly oversees the police, and the police commissioner was asserting that they'd done everything possible. Yet, CBI’s status report revealed that the police did the opposite. Should the Chief Minister first take action against police commissioner Vineet Goyal, who claims extensive efforts were made in the case, but Supreme Court labels them as grossly negligent?
'Never Seen Such Negligence in My 30-Year Career'
CBI communicated to the court that the crime scene was tampered with, prompting the Chief Justice to question the lapse in securing the crime scene and evidence collection. Justice J.B. Pardiwala noted he'd never seen such negligence in his 30-year career. It was alarming that the crime and murder occurred on the night of August 8-9, but the police were notified at 10:10 am on August 9. What was the hospital administration doing for so long?
Source: aajtak
Supreme Court Raises Several Questions
With Mamata Banerjee both being the state's Health Minister and Home Minister, the Supreme Court noted the apparent cover-up by the medical college administration and questioned the police’s delay in FIR registration and securing the crime scene. CBI highlighted the police allowed tampering with the crime scene. They even questioned why the post-mortem was conducted before registering the unnatural death.
CBI to Conduct Polygraph Tests on Sandeep Ghosh and 4 Trainee Doctors
CBI has interrogated Sandeep Ghosh for seven consecutive days. Suspicion falls on Ghosh as the chief accused Sanjay Roy allegedly acted as Ghosh’s bouncer. The CBI has also examined the SUV used by Ghosh. Now, the CBI has obtained court approval for Ghosh’s polygraph test and will also test the four doctors involved in the August 8 dinner with the female doctor. Through these polygraph tests, the CBI aims to verify the accuracy of their statements.
