The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to conduct polygraph tests on former RG Kar Medical College Principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors who were on duty the night a 31-year-old doctor was raped and murdered. The tests, approved by a special court today, come after the CBI failed to obtain satisfactory responses from Ghosh during a week of intensive questioning.
Polygraph test results, while not admissible in court, are often used to guide investigations by indicating possible leads or inconsistencies in testimonies. The decision to administer these tests follows a series of controversies and legal scrutiny surrounding Ghosh and the handling of the case.
Ghosh has been criticized for his alleged mishandling of the case, including the delay in filing a police complaint and providing misinformation to the victim’s family. Both the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court have expressed concerns about his role in the case, questioning why the incident was initially categorized as an unnatural death rather than a formal criminal complaint. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, has demanded explanations for Ghosh’s failure to file an FIR and his subsequent transfer to another hospital.
In addition to the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder, Ghosh is also under scrutiny for alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College, with a corruption case registered against him by the Kolkata Police.
The CBI has alleged that local police attempted to cover up the crime and tampered with the crime scene before the central agency took over. These allegations have been firmly denied by the state authorities.
Sources By Agencies