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Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for West Bengal government during hearing on RG Kar rape-murder case in SC | Image/X
The West Bengal government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that women lawyers were receiving rape threats for representing state in RG Kar rape-murder case.
The West Bengal government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that women lawyers were receiving rape threats and threats of physical harm for representing the state before the apex court in the matter concerning to rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, flagged concerns surrounding the safety of his chamber juniors before the three-judge bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud hearing the suo moto case over medic’s rape and murder in the state-run health facility in Kolkata.
“There are threats to women in my chamber and then there are posts about me laughing. When did I laugh? It is being said that acid will be thrown at them and raped etc. People on the ground are saying this,” Sibal said. Responding to Sibal, the court assured its intervention if there were any threats to any woman or man.
Sibal Demands ‘Livestreaming Of Case’ To Be Taken Off
Asserting that the reputation built by lawyers over 50 years is being destroyed overnight, Sibal requested the bench to halt the live-streaming of the court hearing in the matter of RG Kar Hospital’s rape and murder case. The bench refused to halt the live-streaming, stating that it was in the public interest.
“I have great concerns at what is happening. When a matter is livestreamed like this it has emotive implications. We are not here for the accused. We appear for the State and as soon as the court is making a comment our reputation is getting destroyed overnight. It has 50 years of reputation,” Sibal said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court bench also examined the confidential status report submitted by the CBI on the progress made in investigating the rape and murder case so far and said, “Making a disclosure today of what the CBI is investigating will jeopardise the process.”
Noting that CBI has responded to all of the issues we have raised, the top court said that the probe agency is required to get more time to complete its investigation and unearth the truth in the RG Kar rape and murder case.