Kolkata, 14 August (H.S.) : The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case has witnessed another arrest, with former councillor Sanjib Mukherjee being taken into custody in connection with a fresh FIR registered in the case.

The development comes days after Panihati’s former Trinamool Congress MLA Nirmal Ghosh was arrested from Odisha following the registration of a fresh case on the directions of Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari.

According to police sources, Mukherjee was arrested from a house in Chinar Park in Kolkata. He is accused of playing a role in the alleged hurried cremation of the victim’s body despite objections from her family.

Police are also searching for another accused, Panihati Municipality chairman Somnath De, who is reportedly absconding.

Mukherjee had recently denied the allegations against him. He claimed that he was with the deceased doctor’s family on the day of the incident and had gone there to assist his neighbour. He had maintained that he was caught up in the case merely because he had tried to help the family.

The latest arrests follow a demand by the deceased doctor’s father last Monday for an FIR against three persons, including Nirmal Ghosh. Within two days, two of the accused have been arrested.

Police are now probing the alleged role of other persons in the case as part of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the handling and cremation of the victim’s body.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh