Kolkata rape and murder case: Supreme Court orders Wikipedia to remove victim’s photo, name

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered Wikipedia to remove the name of a victim from its site in connection with the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The decision came after the court heard that Wikipedia had withheld the victim’s name and even created a graphic representation of her, although the investigation is still ongoing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), expressed concerns over the way the victim’s distinctive hairstyle was being portrayed on different media platforms.

At the same hearing, the court also ruled that it would not be appropriate to disclose leads in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation at this stage, citing concerns that such disclosures could disrupt the ongoing investigation.

The CBI has submitted a fresh status report to the Supreme Court regarding the ongoing investigation into the RG Kar rape and murder case. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud termed the findings of the status report as “worst” and said the court was “highly disturbed” by its contents.

Commenting on the CBI status report, Chief Justice Chandrachud pointed out that revealing details of the ongoing investigation could “compromise the line of investigation”. He assured that the probe is aimed at “finding the absolute truth” and said more revelations could emerge beyond the current arrests. “Besides the superintendent, the station house officer (SHO) has also been arrested. So let’s wait,” he added.

The CBI is currently examining various issues, including proper submission of the legal report for post-mortem and possibility of tampering with the crime scene or destruction of evidence. The Chief Justice noted that it would be “imprudent on our part to disclose anything further” at this stage.

Acknowledging the suggestions of the victim’s father regarding potential leads for investigation, the chief justice said, “We are not making these suggestions public, but they are valuable inputs,” urging the central investigation agency to consider them. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, confirmed that the agency would accept the chief justice’s suggestion.

Further, the Chief Justice highlighted the difficulties faced by the CBI due to a “five-day delay” in the investigation, which hampered its progress. After considering a letter dated September 12, the court noted that many of the issues raised are still under investigation by the CBI and no conclusion can be reached at this stage.