Mamata Banerjee's CBI ultimatum if cops can't solve doctor rape-murder case

Amid protests over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old woman trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday gave a stern warning to the police that the CBI would take over the case if the cops could not crack the matter by Sunday (August 18).

Calling the incident "extremely painful" and "shocking", Banerjee said the victim's parents alleged that some inside was also involved in the crime.

"We have deployed a dog squad, video department and forensic department to investigate the matter. If Kolkata Police is unable to solve the case by Sunday, we will transfer it to CBI," she said.

"It is an extremely painful incident. Whoever is involved in the case should be punished immediately. We want this case to be fast-tracked because then the judicial process will be quick. I was shocked that the incident took place despite the presence of nurses and security personnel in the hospital," she added.

"I have told the police that the victim's parents have also said that someone from inside is involved. We have removed the principal, Head of Department, Medical Superintendent cum Vice Principal (MSVP), and the ASP from this hospital," she said.

On August 9, the trainee doctor was found in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital with injury marks on her body, and an autopsy later confirmed that she was raped before being murdered. The accused, Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested on August 10 (Saturday) and has been sent to 14-day police custody.

The civic volunteer was not officially associated with RG Kar Medical College and Hospital but was known to frequent the premises.

In a related development, four pleas were filed in the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI probe into the case. The court will hear the matter on Tuesday (August 13).

Earlier, Banerjee said that the accused would be handed the death penalty if needed and stressed the need to direct the case to a fast-track court for the victim's family to get speedy justice.

Thousands of doctors and post-graduate students held strikes across the country to protest over the rape and murder of the Kolkata doctor.

Members of the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of Delhi's AIIMS put forth six demands, including the need to hand over the case to the CBI for an inquiry, strict action against the culprits and adequate compensation to the victim's family.