‘Slander’: Mamata Banerjee denies allegations of cover-up in Kolkata rape, murder case | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: West Bengal’s chief minister on Monday fiercely defended her government and has been sacked accusations of offering money to the deceased physician in training‘s family who was raped and murdered in a government hospital in Kolkata.
The TMC supremo, who is under fire from several quarters, also defended her decision not to dismiss the Kolkata commissioner in light of the horrific incident that shocked the country.
The prime minister termed the allegations of offering money as “slander” and said it was a conspiracy hatched by the Centre along with the Left parties.
“I have never offered money to the family of the deceased doctor, this is nothing but slander.”
“I told the parents of the deceased doctor that if they wanted to do something in the memory of their daughter, our government is with them. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal offered to resign after RG Kar’s protests, but we need someone who knows law and order for Durga Puja,” she said.
The Prime Minister’s reaction came after the Supreme Court heard an own motion petition on the issue and directed the CBI to file a fresh status report by next week. The parents of the deceased doctors alleged that the Kolkata police had tried to hush up the case.
A week ago, the parents of the deceased alleged that the Kolkata police tried to cover up the case and “offered them money to keep quiet about their daughter’s death”.
“The police tried to hush up the case from the beginning. We were not allowed to see the body and had to wait at the police station while the body was taken for an autopsy. Later, when the body was handed over to us, a senior police officer offered us money, which we immediately refused,” the father had alleged.
Earlier in the day, however, the Supreme Court had directed the CBI to submit a fresh report in the case by September 17.
The Supreme Court also recalled that no action should be taken against doctors once they return to work at 5pm on Tuesday.
The court, however, noted that it could not stop the state government if they did not return to work. Further absence, the Supreme Court noted, could lead to disciplinary action against them.
The Supreme Court had earlier questioned the West Bengal police on several issues relating to the rape and murder case.
The court pointed out several alleged lapses, including delays in filing the FIR, handing over the deceased doctor’s body to her family and failure to protect medical personnel during a mob attack.