Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: Supreme Court Directs CBI to Submit Fresh Report By Next Tuesday

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a fresh status report by next Tuesday in the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case. The court’s directive came after the central agency raised concerns regarding the forensic evidence, questioning “who collected the samples” as a crucial issue.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud noted, “A status report has been filed by the CBI, and the investigation is ongoing. We direct the CBI to file a fresh report. The matter will be taken up on Tuesday. We are not guiding the CBI in its investigation.”

The court also sought clarification on the timing of the unnatural death report, involving the death of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, following the CBI’s submission.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, said samples have been sent for forensic analysis at AIIMS in Delhi. He added that the victim was found semi-nude, with injury marks on her body, and the samples collected had earlier been sent to CFSL in West Bengal.

Without disclosing explicit details, Mehta highlighted the importance of identifying who collected the samples, given the forensic results.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, informed the court that the death certificate was issued at 1:47 PM, while the unnatural death was registered at 2:55 PM. Mehta, however, stated that records showed the report was filed at 11:30 PM.

The CBI submitted its status report in a sealed envelope, which the court reviewed.

The case was taken up suo motu by the Supreme Court and is being heard by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra.