Suvendu Adhikari Suspends Three Senior IPS Officers for Alleged ‘Misconduct & Mishandling’ of 2024 RG Kar Rape-Murder Case

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday announced the suspension of three prominent IPS officers - former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, ex-Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Indira Mukherjee, and ex-Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Abhishek Gupta - pending a departmental inquiry into their conduct during the initial stages of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case.

The decision comes nearly two years after the horrific incident that shook the nation in August 2024 and triggered widespread protests demanding justice and police accountability. While the core criminal investigation remains with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the state government under the new leadership has initiated a parallel probe into allegations of procedural lapses, poor crime scene management, and attempts to influence the victim’s family by senior officers involved at the time.

The RG Kar case erupted on August 9, 2024, when a 31 yearnold postgraduate trainee doctor was found raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of the state run hospital. The crime sparked outrage across the country, with junior doctors launching prolonged protests against what they described as a culture of impunity in healthcare institutions and alleged attempts by authorities to downplay or cover up the incident. The Calcutta High Court eventually transferred the probe to the CBI amid mounting criticism of the Kolkata Police’s initial handling.

Vineet Goyal: Then Kolkata Police Commissioner

At the helm during the incident, Vineet Goyal bore overall responsibility for the Kolkata Police’s response. Critics pointed to significant delays in registering a proper First Information Report (FIR) - initially treated as an “unnatural death” before being upgraded to rape and murder. Goyal faced sharp backlash for a media briefing shortly after the incident in which he inadvertently revealed the victim’s identity, an action that drew a contempt petition in the Calcutta High Court. He later tendered an unconditional apology, and the court dropped the case against him, accepting that the disclosure was unintentional.

Goyal also came under fire for his public statements blaming “malicious media and social media campaigns” for eroding public trust in the police after violent clashes erupted at the hospital on the night of August 14, 2024. Protesters and doctors alleged that the force failed to anticipate or control the vandalism, which allegedly compromised potential evidence before the CBI could take over. Goyal himself later acknowledged intelligence lapses regarding the crowd buildup. The massive junior doctors’ agitation in September 2024 forced the then state government to transfer him out of the commissioner’s post; he was subsequently posted as Additional Director General of the Special Task Force.

Indira Mukherjee: Then DCP (Central)

Indira Mukherjee, who oversaw central Kolkata divisions, played a visible role in defending the police’s actions during the critical early hours. In late August 2024 press briefings, she addressed viral photographs and videos showing multiple individuals inside the seminar hall - the crime scene - claiming that the area had been properly cordoned off and that only authorised personnel, including forensic experts, videographers, investigating officers, and the victim’s family, were present after the inquest was completed. She firmly rejected allegations of tampering or compromise, insisting no unauthorised outsiders had entered the restricted zone.

Her statements, however, became a flashpoint amid accusations that the initial police response had allowed potential evidence to be disturbed. Public and legal scrutiny intensified after the CBI reportedly flagged irregularities at the scene, leading to questions about whether the force had prioritised transparency and preservation of forensic integrity.

Abhishek Gupta: Then DCP (North)

The RG Kar Hospital fell under the jurisdiction of the North Division, headed by Abhishek Gupta at the time. He drew direct allegations from the victim’s parents, who claimed that police personnel under his command had offered them money shortly after the body was discovered, allegedly in an attempt to silence them or discourage further demands for a thorough investigation. Gupta was among the senior officers questioned by the CBI in September 2024 as part of the probe into the early police actions.

Like Goyal, Gupta was transferred out following the junior doctors’ demands in mid-September 2024. The parents’ accusations of a bribe attempt have remained a persistent point of contention, fuelling demands for accountability.

Addressing the media at Nabanna, Chief Minister Adhikari stated that the suspensions were necessary to restore public faith in the police machinery. He specifically cited the officers’ alleged roles in the bribe attempt to the victim’s family and the conduct of press conferences without proper written authorisation. The state has now ordered a departmental inquiry, separate from the ongoing CBI criminal investigation, to examine the conduct and possible dereliction of duty by the officers on the day of the incident and in the immediate aftermath.

The suspensions mark one of the first major administrative actions by the new government following the 2026 Assembly elections. The three officers, all senior members of the West Bengal cadre, have been placed under suspension with immediate effect and will face formal departmental proceedings.