During a tense hearing today, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) faced strong criticism from a Kolkata court regarding its handling of the rape and murder case involving a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital. The presiding judge expressed frustration, stating, “The CBI shouldn’t be so casual in making applications.”

The case has led to the arrest of police inspector Abhijit Mondal and former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh, both of whom appeared virtually in court as the CBI sought to extend their custody for further interrogation based on newly recovered evidence.

The CBI reported that data extracted from DVRs, hard drives, and mobile phones, including CCTV footage from the Tala police station, has revealed "new and crucial facts" pertinent to the investigation. However, the defense lawyers challenged the need for extended custody.

Advocate Ayan Bhattacharya, representing Mondal, argued that his client had been in judicial custody for days without being questioned. "If the CBI has the data, why do they need my custody again?" he questioned.

Similarly, Sandip Ghosh's lawyer, Zohaib Rauf, contested the relevance of interrogating his client about data related to the Tala police station, emphasizing that Ghosh was the principal of RG Kar Hospital. “Why should I be questioned for this?” he stated.

The defense also accused the CBI of seeking custody primarily to delay bail, with Bhattacharya noting, “Despite having five days of CBI custody, they didn’t question my client even once.”

Under pressure, the CBI’s legal team struggled to defend their request for an extension. After several revisions to their custody application, the judge permitted an amendment but stressed the importance of thoroughness in future proceedings.

Ultimately, the court denied the CBI’s request for extended custody, ordering both accused to remain in judicial custody for an additional four days. The next hearing is scheduled for October 4.