Kolkata RG Kar doctor rape-murder case: A CBI lawyer reached a Sealdah court 50 minutes late, and opposed Sanjay Roy’s bail plea, stating it would hamper probe.
Kolkata RG Kar doctor rape-murder case: A Sealdah court on Friday expressed displeasure after the Central Bureau of Investigation’s investigating officer and lawyer failed to appear at the hearing of Sanjay Roy, the prime suspect in the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor from Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
However, a CBI lawyer reportedly reached the court 50 minutes late, and opposed Sanjay Roy’s bail plea, stating it would hamper its investigation, The Times of India reported.
The court emphasised the gravity of the situation and the need for more prompt action from the CBI, The Indian Express reported.
India Today reported that additional chief judicial magistrate Pamela Gupta was so miffed over the investigating officer’s absence and the prosecutor’s delay that at one point she asked, “Should I grant bail to Sanjay Roy?”
“This shows a very lethargic approach by the CBI. It’s highly unfortunate,” the magistrate added.
What happened in the Kolkata court?
The Times of India reported that the CBI lawyer delayed the Sealdah court hearing for 50 minutes regarding the bail application of Sanjay Roy.
“If the lawyer isn’t present, he (Sanjay Roy) should be granted bail,” Pamela Gupta said when informed by a CBI officer at 4:10pm that the public prosecutor was running late, ToI reported.
As the delay continued, and the lawyer Dipak Poria had yet to arrive, the magistrate instructed the CBI officer to call him. “It’s 4:20 now. This is very unfortunate,” she said.
The officer, identifying herself as an assistant investigating officer, left the courtroom to make the call and returned 15 minutes later, stating that Dipak Poria was on his way, the report added.
When Poria finally arrived at 5:00pm, defense lawyer Kavita Sarkar questioned why CBI wasn’t represented by the counsel who attended the previous hearing on August 23. Dipak Poria replied saying that he was the probe agency’s full-time lawyer and briefly opposed Sanjay Roy’s bail without giving specific reasons.
During the hearing, the court rejected the bail plea of Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, who was arrested on August 10.
The court also remanded the accused to 14 days of judicial custody. Sanjay Roy will remain in judicial custody till September 20 under the supervision of the CBI.
Kavita Sarkar had argued for Sanjay Roy’s bail, pointing out that he had no criminal record and the CBI had yet to present any evidence against him, India Today reported.
Trinamool Congress slams CBI
Reacting to the development, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale alleged that CBI wanted to get Sanjay Roy on bail.
“CBI wants to get the rape & murder accused monster RELEASED on bail. An active effort is being made by CBI, BJP, & the Modi Govt to run a political agenda and BURY this case. How can CBI allow this monster to get bail? What is the sinister agenda that is being played out? Why was CBI ABSENT in court today?” Saket Gokhale wrote on social media X.