Kolkata, 15 July (H.S.) : The West Bengal government is set to begin the process of withdrawing criminal cases registered against doctors and civil society members who took part in what it described as peaceful and democratic protests following the 2024 RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case.

According to sources in the state secretariat, the move will be based on recommendations of the judicial commission headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Biswajit Basu, which was recently constituted to examine allegations of institutional lapses and actions taken during the previous Trinamool Congress government.

The commission is expected to identify cases in which protesters were allegedly booked to intimidate or harass them during the movement demanding justice for the victim.

At the same time, the state government has directed the police to identify and initiate legal action against those allegedly involved in the vandalism and violence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the night of August 14, 2024.

According to official sources, investigators believe the attack on the hospital was carried out with the dual objective of destroying potential evidence linked to the crime and diverting public and media attention from the Women, Reclaim the Night protests that had erupted across the state following the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor.

Following the BJP government's assumption of office in West Bengal earlier this year, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered the reopening of the RG Kar case and announced disciplinary action against three senior IPS officers.

The suspended officers include former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal, former Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division) Abhishek Gupta, and former Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Indira Mukherjee. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against all three officers.

The new government's position on the RG Kar issue is clear, a senior official at Nabanna said.

The priority is to ensure that everyone involved, directly or indirectly, in any attempt to dilute the larger conspiracy through destruction or tampering of evidence is brought to justice. At the same time, peaceful protesters who were allegedly subjected to unnecessary legal action should be relieved of those cases, the official added.

The state government is expected to begin the legal process for withdrawing eligible cases after the judicial commission submits its recommendations, while investigations into the alleged conspiracy and hospital vandalism continue.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh