'Classic Case Of Excesses': Police Crackdown On Kolkata Rape-Murder Posts Draws Flak, TMC Does A Fact-Check

It’s an out-and-out political war in the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, but this time over what critics describe as police excesses in dealing with protesters, naysayers on social media and, in at least one case, a TMC insider.

As Trinamool Congress (TMC) veteran Sukhendu Sekhar Ray sought pre-arrest bail from the Calcutta High Court on Monday (August 19), his own party indirectly justified the police summonses sent to him as being in response to “factually incorrect statements”. A TMC leader has justified the police action, saying only those sharing misinformation and fake news are acted against. Saying this is “real fascism”, the BJP, meanwhile, has been at its most aggressive, demanding West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation for attempting to stifle the “people’s movement”.

The ruling party is not far behind. Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale has put out a thread on social media platform X, alleging the BJP “hijacked” the protests and “turned it into an agenda for toppling the Bengal government”.

The political blame game snowballed into full-fledged mudslinging, especially after the arrest of a student for allegedly disclosing the woman doctor’s identity on social media and issuing threats to the chief minister. Some supporters of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal football clubs were detained as they demonstrated against outside Salt Lake stadium — the venue of the cancelled ‘Kolkata derby’ on Sunday (August 18).

‘State vendetta operating’

A controversy erupted after the TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who has constantly stood against the party line since the protests began, put out social media posts calling for the CBI to quiz Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal about “who floated the suicide story and why”. Following this, the Kolkata Police sent him notices to appear at the headquarters in Lalbazar saying he is “factually wrong” in his social media post, especially about sniffer dogs being brought to the crime scene three days after the woman doctor’s body was found.

Taking his party head on, he approached the high court for anticipatory bail as he wants protection from arrest. His hearing is expected to take place on Tuesday (August 20). “This is classic case of police excess. They did send notice for expressing solidarity. They have sent under Section 35/3, but he cleared it with the police that he has a health condition and also showed medical documents issued by the AIIMS. Even after that, they have sent him two notices. In the second notice, his health condition has been referred to. To prevent that, he has come to court. We all know what the government is doing. Sukhendu Sekhar is a senior politician, we know his reputation; this is state vendetta operating,” Ray’s lawyer told News18.

‘Police taking action against wrong information’

Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said police are taking action against only those who are posting wrong information, fake audio and disclosing the name of the doctor on social media. Ghosh said people can protest but in a proper manner.

“If you think you will protest, do it a hundred times in proper language. Do it a thousand times,” Ghosh posted on X. “But giving wrong information, distorted assumptions, fake audio, purposeful inciting posts, names and photos of the deceased, the police will warn you.”

An officer said Kolkata Police have also issued summonses to former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and two renowned doctors — Dr Kunal Sarkar and Dr Subarna Goswami — for allegedly spreading rumours and disclosing the victim’s identity. Apart from these persons, the police have issued summonses to 57 others for spreading wrong information about the incident.

Police said Monday’s arrest of a female student came after a complaint was lodged against her at the Taltala police station. “A complaint was received that… the person uploaded three stories related to the incident that recently took place at RG Kar MCH, disclosing the picture and identity of the victim,” a police officer said.

“At the same time, the accused person also shared two stories against the CM that contained offensive comments and life threats to her. Those were very much provocative in nature and might have created social unrest and promoted hatred among communities,” he said, adding the accused will be produced before a court.

So far, notices have been issued to around 1,000 people for allegedly spreading misinformation and revealing the identity of the victim in the RG Kar case.

This is real fascism: BJP

Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya questioned how many people will Kolkata Police send notices to, as this calls for justice in the case is a “people’s movement”. Party Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala attacked the opposition INDIA bloc, of which the TMC is part of at a national level, saying those who want to protect the Constitution are silent when it comes to saving daughters.

“How many people will Kolkata Police send notices to or arrest? Justice for RG Kar MCH rape and murder victim is now a people’s movement. There is no doubt that Mamata Banerjee and CP Kolkata did everything, in the limited time they had, to botch up the investigation,” he wrote on X, sharing a video of a massive rally in Kolkata.

He added: “Bengal wants Mamata Banerjee to resign. She is incompetent and evil, both.”

Poonawala called Banerjee “Dictator Didi” and said one of her ministers, Udayan Guha, has been threatening as well as mocking and insulting the protests rallies. Now, Guha has reportedly said those who point a finger at Didi, their fingers will be broken.

“Dictator Didi minister Udayan Guha who insulted & mocked Women’s 14th August midnight march now gives chilling warning ‘If you point finger at CM, fingers will be broken’,” he alleged.

“This is real fascism – Kolkata police issues threat notices to citizens, summons doctors; football match cancelled to avoid protests; Shantanu Sen sacked as spokesperson for speaking on Sandip Ghosh, Sukhendu Roy summoned; Talibani order to transfer 43 doctors which was halted,” he said, adding, “now open threats! Apparently doctor has witnessed violence yesterday by a mob.. Parents of victim have also spoken on how Mamta is suppressing the truth yet INDI alliance which says Sanvidhan Bachao is silent on Balatkari Bachao, Sach Chipao!”

‘BJP+CPM toolkit to destabilise Bengal will get befitting response’

Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale of the TMC, meanwhile, seemingly attempted to defend the harsh criticism his government was facing in Bengal. Coupled with the people’s protests demanding speedy justice, opposition parties are trying to pressure the the CM into resigning from her post.

Gokhale alleged that the BJP has hijacked the protests and turned them into an agenda for toppling the state government, but this “sinister toolkit” by the saffron party and the CPI(M) will not work. He said the BJP was running an organised campaign, giving what he claims to be “proof” in a sufficiently long thread on X.

He further said while the CBI took over five days ago, there have been “zero updates”. “Genuine protestors have now been replaced by BJYM & BJP workers on the streets of Kolkata. In their own words: the ONLY agenda is toppling the Govt,” he said.