Will seek death penalty for accused, no objection on probe by any agency: CM Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee on Saturday vowed to seek death penalty for the accused in the brutal sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in a state-run hospital. Her announcement came shortly after the accused, who was reportedly an outsider frequenting the hospital premises, was arrested and later remanded to 14-day police custody.
Banerjee also instructed officials to expedite the trial by moving it to a fast track court.
She said her government would have no objections to a CBI probe if the students demand it, emphasising, «If they do not trust the West Bengal government, they can approach any investigating agency; we have no objection.»
In a post on X, the Raj Bhavan said Governor CV Ananda Bose has asked the state government to take immediate action in the matter and submit a report.
«HG has asked the State Government to take immediate action in the matter and submit a report. HG is also taking up the matter with the Govt of India for appropriate action,» the post said.
The body of the woman doctor was found inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar Government Hospital in north Kolkata on Friday.
Preliminary autopsy reports indicated that she was sexually abused before being murdered.
The accused has been charged with rape and murder based on circumstantial evidence and testimonies from doctors who were present during night-duty hours, according to Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.
«This is a heinous crime, and the arrested person is allegedly involved based on circumstantial evidence,
