Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Thursday transferred the investigation of the RG Kar rape-murder victim’s cremation dispute from the Khardah PS cops to CBI , after cautioning the Khardah PS inspector-in-charge and case investigating officer for stepping into an ongoing HC-monitored CBI special investigation team (SIT) probe.
In its last hearing on Sept 24, the HC asked how police could, in the middle of a CBI probe being held under the court’s supervision covering all aspects of the Aug 9, 2024 rape and murder, start a separate investigation of its own.
The issue cropped up after the victim’s father on Aug 10 lodged a complaint at the Khardah PS, alleging his daughter’s body was hurriedly cremated “to wipe out evidence”. The HC also said, “The Khardah PS investigating officer will not take any further step and hand over all the records to the SIT, which is conducting the investigation on behalf of the CBI, going by the court directive. The HC said the CBI would decide whether those arrested and in custody needed to continue to be in custody.
Police arrested all the three named in the FIR, including former Pannihati MLA Nirmal Ghosh. The HC on Thursday said, “Both the CBI and the state agency cannot carry forward the investigation.
We are not satisfied with the explanation offered and we caution them to be more careful in future,” said a division bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh.
“Pursuant to the earlier direction of this court, the inspector-in-charge, Khardah PS and the IO are present. The HC asked the officers, who were told to be in court on Thursday, to immediately hand over all case-related documents to CBI.