News18 has a copy of the prayer, submitted by the assistant superintendent of the CBI, who is also the investigating officer (IO) in the case. (File pic/PTI)
The agency has also arrested Tala Police Station SHO Abhijit Mandal. It submitted a petition to the CBI court on Saturday evening, seeking the custody of Sandip Ghosh, accusing him of being involved in causing ‘considerable delay in registration of FIR in conspiracy with others’ and thereby ‘leading to deliberate destruction of vital evidence’
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested RG Kar Medical College and Hospital’s ex-principal Sandip Ghosh and a police officer for alleged delay in the registration of the FIR and missing evidence in the postgraduate trainee doctor’s brutal rape and murder in Kolkata. The arrested police officer is Tala Police Station SHO Abhijit Mandal.
The agency submitted a petition to the CBI court on Saturday evening, seeking the custody of Sandip Ghosh, accusing him of being involved in causing “considerable delay in registration of FIR in conspiracy with others” and thereby “leading to deliberate destruction of vital evidence”. The central agency has also mentioned in the petition that Ghosh “committed the offence with malafide intention of safeguarding the prime accused and other co-accused persons, if any”.
Turning Point?
This action by the CBI may work as a potential turning point in the ongoing investigation. In a prayer before the CJM court ( Sealdah), submitted on September 14, the agency has sought to take Ghosh in custody in connection with the main case — the rape and murder of a junior resident doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
News18 has a copy of the prayer, submitted by the assistant superintendent of the CBI, who is also the investigating officer (IO) in the case.
This marks a significant moment in the investigation, as it’s the first time since the CBI took over the case that the agency has sought custody of a second person. Ghosh has been arrested by the CBI in a separate case of financial corruption and he is currently in judicial custody.
What CBI Plea Says
The investigating officer of the CBI’s special crime unit (I), who is also an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) has stated in the prayer that Ghosh, along with others, “conspired” and delayed the FIR which led to the destruction of “vital evidence”.
“That in compliance of the order dated 13.08.2024 passed by the Hon’ble High Court, Calcutta in WPA (P) No. 331/2024, 332/2024, 333/2024, 334/2024, 335 of 2024 and 339 of 2024, the investigation of FIR No 52/2024 dated 09.08.2024 of Tala PS has been taken over by CBI and re-registered as case RC0482024S0010 dated 13.08.2024 u/s 64/103(1) of BNS against unknown accused persons. The investigation of this case is in progress,” the plea said.
“During the investigation of the instant case, the involvement of Dr Sandip Ghosh, Ex-Principal, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital has emerged in deliberate destruction of evidence by not declaring death of the victim immediately, considerable delay in registration of FIR in conspiracy with others which led to destruction of vital evidence in this grave and heinous crime of rape and murder and thereby committing clear offences punishable u/s 238, 199 /w 61(2) of BNS-2023 with the malafide intention to safeguard the main accused and other co-accused persons, if any,” the senior CBI officer added in the petition.
To further investigate the points, custodial interrogation of Ghosh is essential to take the case to a logical end, the officer said seeking his custody.
“In view of above submission, it is humbly prayed that the Superintendent of Presidency Correctional Home, Alipore, Kolkata may please be directed to produce the accused Dr. Sandeep Ghosh, Ex-Principal of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital tomorrow for further necessary action at the end of CBI in the interest of justice,” the officer mentioned.
