In a shocking twist to the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, the victim’s parents have accused the Kolkata Police of attempting to cover up the case through bribery. They also alleged that they were pressured into rushing their daughter’s cremation. On Thursday, the parents claimed they were forced to make a recorded confession denying the bribery allegations, a day after they had publicly accused the police of misconduct.
The controversy began when the parents accused a senior police officer of offering them money on August 9, the day of their daughter’s cremation, allegedly in an effort to suppress the case. They stated that the police were in a hurry to cremate the body and did not allow them to see their daughter before it was sent for post-mortem.
“The police tried to hush up the case from the start. We were not allowed to see the body, and a senior police official offered us money, which we immediately declined,” the victim’s father said, adding that there was immense pressure to cremate the body against their wishes.
In response to these serious allegations, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday released a video that purportedly shows the parents saying they were not offered money by the police, contradicting their earlier claims. TMC leader and minister Shashi Panja insisted that the video refuted the accusations and pointed the finger at the Opposition, accusing them of politicizing the tragic incident.
“A video has surfaced where the parents claim that no money was offered by the police and that their main priority is justice for their daughter,” Panja said. She added, “We cannot imagine the pain the parents are going through, but this should not be turned into a political matter. We appeal for no political pressure to be placed on the family.”
However, the victim’s family swiftly countered the TMC’s defense, stating that the video was forcibly recorded by the police soon after the cremation and did not reflect their true feelings.
As the political drama continues to unfold, the victim’s mother penned an emotional letter to her daughter’s former professors and fellow students at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. In her letter, released on Teacher’s Day, the grieving mother described her daughter’s aspirations to earn multiple degrees and help people lead healthier lives. She implored the teachers and students to assist the ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, expressing her frustration at the lack of progress nearly a month after her daughter’s death.
