Kolkata: Reacting to the allegation that Kolkata Police offered money to the victim's family in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case to suppress it, West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja on Thursday said that the opposition should not play vulture politics over a person who has passed away and was a victim of rape.
On Thursday, TMC leaders, including West Bengal Minister Bratya Basu & Jay Prakash Majumdar and Panja held a joint press conference.
Addressing media, Shashi Panja said, "The protesters gathered at the Nabanna Bhavan. Now the CBI is conducting an investigation at the CGO complex. When will the protesters gather at the CGO complex due to the delay in the investigation? The protesters gathered outside the Women's Commission office but did not protest outside the CGO Complex, which is near to it. The opposition has challenged the 'Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024' and said that the Legislative Assembly has passed the bill but will the Governor sign it. Their aim is not justice for the victim but to do politics over it."
She further said that the CBI is conducting an investigation since August 13 but all the political parties have jumped into the case.
"A lot of fake videos are circulating. Yesterday one such video went viral. We have solidarity with the victim's family and they are going through a difficult period. A video has emerged that police offered money to them to vitiate the case. Another video has emerged where the parents have called the video fake. We all want justice. We want the political parties not to extend their pressure to the family and take political advantage. This is not the place to do vulture politics over a dead body," she further said.
Shashi Panja demanded the CBI for a speedy investigation.
"There should not be politics over rape. A lot of allegations have been spread on post-mortem report. On August 22 Chief Justice said that the post-mortem report is already there with him and he was not interested in what was circulating in social media. These fake videos are injustice towards the victim. Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance. CBI will have to answer. The bill has also shown the way that punishment has to be meted out," she added.
In the latest development in the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case, the family of the victim has accused the Kolkata Police of trying to offer them money when they were crying and sitting with the mortal remains of their daughter inside the house.
"When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of the police?" said the aunt of the deceased doctor.
These allegations came while addressing media persons after the family of the deceased doctor joined protests at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday night.
Accusing the Kolkata Police for "not fulfilling their responsibility," the aunt of the deceased doctor said that as soon as the last rites were performed, the police personnel left the family alone and became completely inactive, but before the rituals, around 300-400 police personnel surrounded the family.
"Till the last rites were not performed, 300-400 policemen surrounded us but after it was performed, not a single policeman was seen there. What would the family do, how would they go home, Police took no responsibility. Police were active till the last rites were performed and after that, they became completely inactive. When the body of the daughter was lying in front of the parents in the house and we were shedding tears, the police were offering money, is this the humanity of police? The Police were saying that they have fulfilled all their responsibilities, is this what is called fulfilling the responsibility?" said the aunt of the deceased doctor.
—ANI