In a sharp reaction that reflects growing tension over the way in which the case pertaining to the gruesome rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital had been handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation, a Kolkata court sharply reacted today during a tense hearing. “The CBI shouldn’t be so casual in making applications,” said the judge.
CBI Uncovers New Evidence, Seeks Extended Custody
The case in this regard includes the arrest of police inspector Abhijit Mondal and former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh. While the CBI sought additional time to question the arrested individuals regarding the newly recovered information, they were presented in court virtually.
The CBI stated that data taken from DVRs, hard drives, and mobile phones, including CCTV footage from the Tala police station, has revealed “new and important information.”
Defense Lawyers Challenge CBI’s Request For Extended Custody
The defense lawyer questioned whether custody needed to be extended further. Advocate Ayan Chakraborty pleaded for Mondal saying, “I have been in judicial custody for days and haven’t been questioned at all. If the CBI has the data, why do they need to keep me in custody again?”
The lawyer for Sandip Ghosh questioned his client’s importance in being interrogated when going by data in the Tala police station. He said on behalf of Ghosh, “I was the principal of RG Kar Hospital, not Tala police station. Why should I be questioned about this?”
The defense also raised apprehension that the CBI wanted to hand out extra time in custody to delay the bail order. “Though they had my client under CBI custody for five days, they didn’t question him even once,” Chakraborty pointed out.
Court Rejects CBI’s Custody Extension Request
Under pressure of criticism, the legal team handling the CBI case blundered their arguments while defending the application for extension of custody. They had to revise their custody application thrice and the judge permitted amendment but cautioned them to be cautious about it.
Next Hearing On October 4
The court rejected CBI’s appeal to extend custody and ordered both accused to remain in judicial custody for four more days. The next hearing is scheduled for 4 October.
