NTT Investigation: Were the RG Kar Protests Organic or Planned by Event Management Companies?

Last year’s protests in Kolkata over the brutal rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (MCH) scripted a new chapter of student led movements in Bengal. What initially began as a demand for better healthcare and justice for a fellow student quickly morphed into a powerful political statement. Echoing the movements seen in Bangladesh, where digital media played a key role, the streets of Kolkata became a battleground for both healthcare reform and wider political sentiments. Almost similar to what was witnessed in Bangladesh, the mass protests were not only visible on the streets but also flooded social media platforms—Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Students led the charge, wielding smartphones and amplifying their cause with viral videos and emotionally charged slogans. The rallying cry "Desh Ta Tomar Baper Naki," which became the anthem of the Bangladesh protests, found its way to Kolkata, further blurring the lines between grassroots activism and orchestrated political movements.

While many were quick to see the protests as a spontaneous cry for justice, new revelations suggest that the story might not be as organic as it seemed. A detailed financial investigation has raised serious questions about the role of event management companies and the potential orchestration of the protests. Documents obtained by News The Truth reveal startling details about the funds raised in the name of justice for RG Kar and the late media student ‘Abhaya’. Junior doctors, who spearheaded the protests, had turned to crowdfunding to support the movement. However, the trail of money from these funds has uncovered more than just donations for a cause.​

Through an extensive examination of bank accounts associated with key figures in the protest movement, we discovered that funds were being funnelled into at least three separate accounts. Little before West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front opened an official crowd funding account, two more bank accounts were opened by two junior doctors, reportedly for the same cause- Junior Doctor Priya Lakra from RG Kar MCH opened a current account with State Bank of India (SBI) on August 21, 2024 and another Junior Doctor Shubhadeep Sardar from Opened on August 29, 2024 with a different branch of SBI. While Priya Lakra’s account had generated over Rs 45 lakhs till mid of October, Subhadeep Sardar’s account had generated over Rs 60 lakhs around the same time. This while the WBJDF official account was also, parallely generating crowd funding after its inception.. A study of Shubhadeep’s crowd funding account has thrown open a startling revelation- on October 4, a cheque for Rs 50,000 was issued to a company named ‘Innovadores’. ‘Innovadores’ is an event management company based in Durgapur, West Bengal. Innovadores, according to their website, specialises in brand management, event planning, event management and talent management. But the story doesn't end there. The same day Rs 50,000 was transferred to Innovadorers, another cheque, this time for Rs 1,16,000, was issued to the company’s owner, Arnab Paul. This raises the question: why would funds raised for a protest—widely believed to be an organic movement—be used to pay an event manager? The transaction details suggest that the protests may not have been as spontaneous as they were made to appear.

The junior doctors had started their hunger strike from October 5 onwards and till October 21. The payment to Innvodores went on October 4, a day prior to the start of the hunger strike. Throughout the course of the protest rallies, led by junior doctors, there had been overt use of drone cameras, walkie-talkies, LED screens, sophisticated sound system and every other elements that smack of proper planning and error free execution. Sources, also claim that there were more event management companies hired for the purpose and their efforts had been in nor repeating any agency. While Kolkata is a major city with several event magagement companies but ‘Innovadores’ was roped in even though it being from Durgapur. According to sources, the finds from Durgapur and other places outside Kolkata- was a conscious move to avoid attention. The fact that the funds were routed to a professional event management company adds a layer of intrigue to the entire situation. Was this a case of grassroots activism being hijacked for political purposes, or was it a carefully orchestrated series of events aimed at manipulating public sentiment? Was the outrage that flooded the streets of Kolkata staged to fit a specific narrative?

While the protests at RG Kar hospital were undeniably impactful, raising awareness about critical issues in healthcare, these financial revelations challenge the narrative of the protests being a purely organic response to any alleged ‘injustice’. Was the movement a genuine uprising, or was it a carefully choreographed spectacle designed to stir public emotions for a hidden agenda?​