The West Bengal government on Friday suspended three police officers over alleged lapses in the investigation into the RG Kar rape-murder case, as announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The decision was made public at the state secretariat, where Adhikari stated that former Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal and former deputy commissioners Indira Mukherjee and Abhishek Gupta have been suspended following the initiation of a departmental inquiry against them.
Allegations of Mishandling
Adhikari alleged that the three officers were involved in mishandling the RG Kar rape-murder case, including accusations of offering money to the victim's parents as a bribe and conducting an unauthorised press conference related to the August 2024 incident. The chief minister clarified that the state government is not interfering in the actual criminal investigation, which is currently being handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation and is under judicial scrutiny.
Departmental Inquiry Oversight
Adhikari added that the disciplinary proceedings and departmental inquiry would be overseen by the state home secretary under the supervision of the chief secretary. This move underscores the government's commitment to accountability within the police force while ensuring the main investigation remains unaffected.
