RG Kar Case: Shantanu Sen to Assist Probe as CM Suvendu Orders Reopen
Shantanu Sen Offers to Assist CM Suvendu Adhikari |
Shantanu Sen Offers to Assist CM Suvendu Adhikari
Shantanu Sen Offers to Assist CM Suvendu AdhikarWith the change of guard in West Bengal, the R.G. Kar Medical College rape case has resurfaced as a focal point of political and public debate. Acting on directives from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the state government has reopened the R.G. Kar 'files', signaling a renewed push for investigation and accountability.
In a significant development, former Trinamool Congress MP and physician Dr. Shantanu Sen has stepped forward, offering to assist the Adhikari-led government in the case. Sen stated that if the Chief Minister desires, he is ready to provide information to aid the probe into the R.G. Kar incident.
"Silence for My Daughter’s Career"
Addressing why he remained quiet earlier, Sen was candid. "I kept my silence solely for the sake of my daughter's career. However, my daughter has now become a doctor. Therefore, I no longer have any reservations holding me back," he told media outlets on Wednesday.
The timing is notable. Sen’s daughter’s graduation from medical college appears to have removed what he described as a personal constraint, freeing him to speak on issues he claims to have known about for years.
Allegations Against ‘North Bengal Lobby’ and Hospital Leadership
During his interactions with the press, Sen launched a sharp critique of Bengal’s healthcare system under the previous Trinamool government. He alleged that the system was "held captive" by what he called the 'North Bengal lobby', headed by Dr. S.P. Das.
Sen further pointed to a "nexus of corruption" under former R.G. Kar Principal Sandeep Ghosh and former Patient Welfare Committee Chairman Sudipto Roy. "I was the whistleblower exposing this colossal corruption," Sen claimed. "I had hoped there would be an opportunity to rectify the situation. Instead, I was the one removed from my position on the Patient Welfare Committee."
The ‘Abhaya Incident’ and Political Fallout
Sen repeatedly referenced the "Abhaya incident," calling it tragic. He maintains he was suspended from the party "simply for speaking the truth" after he publicly supported the ‘Night Occupation Movement’ that followed the R.G. Kar scandal.
"The government has now changed. The entire world is watching and awaiting justice for Abhaya. To that end, I am prepared to extend my fullest cooperation," Sen reiterated.
His suspension from Trinamool, removal as spokesperson, and ouster from the Patient Welfare Committee had marked a low point in his political career. Though the rift with the party was later mended, the change in state leadership has clearly altered his stance.
A Thank You to CM Suvendu Adhikari
In a move that underscores the shifting political landscape, Sen, once considered close to Trinamool’s Abhishek Banerjee, publicly thanked Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after the change of power.
Writing on social media, he said: "As a long-standing foot soldier of the medical movement, [I thank] Mr. Suvendu Adhikari for the numerous developments and public welfare-oriented initiatives in the state's healthcare sector..."
What Happens Next?
The reopening of the R.G. Kar files, coupled with Sen’s offer to cooperate, adds a new dimension to a case that sparked massive protests and the ‘Raat Dakhal Andolan’. With a former insider now willing to testify about alleged systemic corruption and political interference in Bengal’s healthcare institutions, the investigation may enter uncharted territory.
For now, all eyes are on how the Adhikari government proceeds and whether Sen’s information leads to new charges or revelations. The case remains a test of the new administration’s promise of transparency and justice in a sector that touches every citizen’s life.
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