West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday praised the Kolkata Police as “number 1 in the world” after meeting the parents of the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was allegedly gang-raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. However, a lot has changed since: the Calcutta High Court removed the Kolkata Police from the case, citing significant lapses in its investigation; and police commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal made several public appeals, vouching for his force’s sincerity during the investigation.
Today, the reputation of the world’s ‘No. 1 police force’ is severely impacted. The commissioner has stated that the force has “lost the trust of the people,” attributing this to “a malicious media campaign.” In the high court, judges expressed concerns about the “failure of law and order,” particularly noting the vandalism at the hospital by a mob of 7,000 people. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, heading the division bench that transferred the rape-murder case to the CBI, emphasised the need for action that would “instill confidence in the mind of the court”.
“Even after a lapse of five days, there appears to be no significant progress in the investigation… we would be well-justified in accepting the plea… that there is every possibility that the evidence will be destroyed and the witnesses will be influenced,” Justice Sivagnanam said.
This situation is not unprecedented for the Kolkata Police, which is often compared to Scotland Yard. The force has faced similar reputational crises in the past, with several high-profile cases being transferred to the CBI, including the 2013 Saradha chit fund scam, the 2016 Narada bribery scandal, the 2021 post-poll violence, and the 2022 SSC recruitment scam. With the RG Kar rape-murder case now also transferred to the CBI, the Kolkata Police is once again grappling with a reputational crisis, which is why it’s ThePrint’s Newsmaker of the Week.
Suspect’s police connection
The Kolkata Police has faced widespread criticism for its handling of the RG Kar rape-murder case. Despite an additional CP rank officer leading the Special Investigation Team (SIT), with 164 personnel analysing CCTV footage and recording statements from 34 individuals, doubts remained about the probe’s integrity. The notices issued by the DCP (Cyber Crime) to users on X have only added fuel to the fire.
The arrested suspect, Sanjay Roy, joined the Kolkata Police as a civic volunteer in 2019. This has raised concerns about the oversight and role of such workers, who are not permanent staff and receive minimal benefits, like a Durga Puja bonus, while assisting with traffic management and disaster response on a contractual basis. Roy lived in police barracks and had access to a police bike with government-funded petrol.
His position granted him significant access, including to government hospitals. Commissioner Goyal avoided confirming Roy’s identity when questioned by the media, referring to him only as a “criminal of the highest order.” The Kolkata Police has yet to issue a detailed statement regarding Roy’s association with the force.
The high court also criticised the Kolkata Police for failing to prevent the violent mob attack at RG Kar on 15 August, which resulted in injuries to at least 15 officers and the hospitalisation of the deputy commissioner. Since then, the Kolkata Police has registered 10 FIRs, arrested 19 people for the vandalism, and issued over 2,000 notices to counter misinformation about the case.
Admitting assessment failure
Established in 1720 under the East India Company and reorganised after Independence, the Kolkata Police is currently led by a commissioner. It operates with 10 divisions covering 90 police stations and approximately 26,000 personnel, including 10 battalions and various specialised branches. Headquartered at Kolkata’s Lal Bazar, the force is under renewed scrutiny, particularly in high-profile cases.
On 15 August, commissioner Goyal defended his team in an emotional appeal to the media amid growing demands for justice. “There is so much pressure from the media. I have been very clear, as far as I am concerned, my team is concerned, that we have done what is right.” This defence came after the vandalism of the emergency building where the crime occurred.
The Kolkata Police faced further questioning from the Calcutta High Court over its decision to register the case as an “unnatural death” rather than acknowledging the “sexual assault” noted in the inquest report. The court also questioned why statements from the principal and superintendent of RG Kar, who informed the victim’s family, were not recorded. Despite holding a press conference last Saturday, the police has not provided further statements, leading to misinformation and unauthorised disclosure of the victim’s details.
Amid growing public outrage, the court questioned why Section 144 was not imposed around RG Kar Hospital despite intelligence warnings of a large mob. Chief Justice Sivagnanam asked why preventive measures were not taken. On Friday, Commissioner Goyal admitted to a “failure of assessment” in a press briefing.
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(Edited by Prashant)
To be fair, consider any police force in the country. How closely it follows political guidance in sensitive cases. How many Julio Ribeiros does one see nowadays.