kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, May 19: The Calcutta High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to completely seal all premises linked to the Abhaya case at RG Kar Hospital. Previously, only the seminar hall had been sealed by investigators, but the division bench of Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh extended the order to include all areas connected to the incident, including the chamber of IPS officer Sandeep Ghosh. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

The case, reopened following the BJP government’s rise to power, saw a detailed hearing on Tuesday before the division bench. During proceedings, the court questioned the CBI on which locations had been sealed at the start of the investigation. The agency initially mentioned only the seminar hall. However, the bench noted that the victim Abhaya’s family had long insisted that a room adjacent to the seminar hall and Sandeep Ghosh’s chamber could be linked to the incident. The court therefore ordered these areas to be sealed as well.

The Abhaya case has seen significant actions under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s leadership. High-ranking Kolkata Police officers have been suspended, and the CM has emphasized a thorough investigation into the chain of command during the incident. Speaking at a press conference in Nabanna, Adhikari stated that phone records, WhatsApp chats, and all communications of the suspended officers would be scrutinized to determine whether actions were taken under the CM’s or any other minister’s direction. He further noted that the investigation would look into allegations of misinformation and the attempts to provide compensation to the victim’s family without following due process.

The High Court’s directive marks a crucial development in the ongoing probe, ensuring that all potentially relevant areas and evidence in the RG Kar Hospital are preserved for further investigation.