Over a 100 top former civil servants, who have come together under the aegis of a platform called the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), has written an open letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, expressing concerns and raising pointed queries on the conduct of the State government in the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder case of a trainee doctor on August 9. The letter specifically referred to the lack of answers from the State government on “certain disturbing questions which have been raised by the media and others” in relation to the case and its investigation.

The questions cover several issues including the alleged involvement of a racket, involving sex, drugs, human organs and medical waste, which was reportedly being run in the RG Kar Hospital. The goings on in relation to the racket was apparently raised by the victim, a junior doctor, on certain platforms. The delay in informing the dead girl’s parents, the transfer and “promotion’ of the principal of the college, the manner in which the scene of crime was left unprotected have all been highlighted in the letter.

The case, which had triggered widespread outrage across the country, especially within the medical fraternity, is now being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, the letter pointed out that the questions with regard to the West Bengal government’s not so clear stance on several factors are still relevant and need to be addressed. “We are aware that heinous crimes against women have been committed in several other States ruled by other political parties.

But these do not, in any way, reduce the seriousness of the present incident. In fact, in a State like Bengal with a woman Chief Minister, who is known to encourage the participation of women in all walks of life, this should not have happened at all. Why and how were so many missteps taken?” asked the letter, dated August 21, 2024. The signatories to the letter include several top former bureaucrats, some of whom have worked with the West Bengal government during their tenure.

Read the full letter, with list of signatories, below:

CCG Open Letter to Chief Minister, West Bengal

Horrific Rape and Murder of postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata and subsequent events

21 August 2024

Honourable Chief Minister of Bengal,

Our group, the Constitutional Conduct Group, comprises former civil servants who have served in the All India and Central Services in various capacities. We have no affiliation with any political party but are strongly committed to the ideals enshrined in the Constitution of India.

We write regarding the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in R.G Kar Medical College in Kolkata. While we hope that the CBI, which is investigating this crime, will do a professional job, we are concerned about the lack of answers to certain disturbing questions which have been raised by the media and others. 

Among these, we wish to highlight the following: 

1. It is widely rumoured that a racket, involving sex, drugs, human organs and medical waste was being run in the RG Kar hospital and that the unfortunate victim of this case had reported these facts to her seniors, but no action was taken. If this is a wild allegation maliciously reported in a section of the media, why has it not been appropriately countered by the State Government?

2. Why was the rape and murder of the trainee doctor reported to her parents in instalments, first as illness, then as death, then as suicide, and only finally as a case of rape and murder? The Kolkata police have denied that they had told the parents that it was a case of suicide; if so, who did? 

3. The Principal of the college should have contacted the family and lodged the FIR. Not only did he not do this, he wanted to know why the doctor on duty had gone to sleep in the seminar room, knowing fully well that there was no place for the doctors on duty to rest at night.

4. Why was the Principal of RG Kar Medical College transferred from the college, only to be accommodated as the Principal of another prestigious medical college in Kolkata?

5. The parents of the murdered trainee doctor seem to have reported that other junior doctors were complicit in this rape-murder. If true, it is a very, very serious matter and strictest action needs to be taken against these doctors, as well as to prevent the possibility of anything like this happening in the future.

6. It seems that the junior doctors have specifically asked for action to be taken against the following medical college personnel: the former Principal, the Medical Superintendent, the Dean of Students Affairs and the HOD of the Chest Medicine Department. Why have they singled out these personnel?

7. We are aware that the RG Kar Hospital and Medical College is a prestigious institution, and more than a hundred years old. Why is it that its infrastructure and facilities continue to be so very poor? What has the State Government done to maintain the infrastructure and provide better facilities and safety in this hospital, or to get Central funds for this? 

8. Why were the hospital premises, the scene of such a heinous crime, left unprotected by the police resulting in the destruction of many areas a few days later by vandals who had apparently infiltrated the protest groups? The scene of the crime along with whatever evidence it contained could have been destroyed. It was fortunate that it was not. 

We note that you have visited the parents of the victim and have assured them justice. We do hope you will take every possible measure to ensure this, including not extending protection to any person, however highly placed s/he may be. However, we do find some of your actions inexplicable. You are the head of the State Government of Bengal as well as Minister for the Home and Health Departments. Therefore, it was for you and your officers to take steps to prevent the commission of the crime, or solve it quickly before the CBI stepped in. What is the point, then, in your leading protest marches? Who or what are you protesting against? 

We are also puzzled by your saying that the enquiry by the CBI should be completed by Sunday, August 18, and the guilty persons should be hanged. This is obviously playing to the gallery since you know as well as anyone else that investigation of such a serious crime cannot be completed in a few days. Besides, all crimes have to be tried by the courts, and sentences on conviction can only be passed by them. Demanding that the guilty persons be hanged will not influence the court’s decision. 

We are aware that heinous crimes against women have been committed in several other states ruled by other political parties. But these do not, in any way, reduce the seriousness of the present incident. In fact, in a State like Bengal with a woman Chief Minister, who is known to encourage the participation of women in all walks of life, this should not have happened at all. Why and how were so many missteps taken?

Like most other concerned citizens in this country, we await with anxiety the outcome of this case, and for the guilty to be punished. We also wait for the state government to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future, which include upgrading security arrangements and facilities in every medical college. We urge you to take all possible action to ensure this.

SATYAMEV JAYATE

Signatories