Calcutta High Court Orders Probe Into Cyber Harassment Posts

The Calcutta High Court has directed the CBI to file a report by September 18 on offensive social media posts involving the rape-murder victim from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. These posts have sparked nationwide outrage. The CBI, which is investigating the case, must address this issue.

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday instructed the CBI to submit a report by September 18 regarding detestable social media posts about the rape-murder victim from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The court observed that the offensive comments, which include the victim's photograph as shown in the provided copies of such posts, are highly unacceptable to society.

The trainee doctor's body was discovered on August 9 in the seminar room of the state-run hospital, leading to nationwide outrage. The CBI began investigating the case in the second week of August following a high court order.

The petitioner in the public interest litigation (PIL) requested that the CBI also investigate the cyber offences related to this tragic incident. The court questioned Additional Solicitor General Asok Kumar Chakrabarti, representing the CBI, on whether the agency could block such posts.

The division bench, led by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, instructed the joint director of the CBI, Kolkata, to address the concerns raised by the petitioner regarding the offensive social media posts.

The bench, which also included Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, ordered the CBI joint director or another competent officer to file a report by September 18, when the PIL and related petitions will be heard again in connection with the August 9 rape-murder case.

After the court's directive, Chakrabarti noted that the CBI lacks a dedicated unit for cyber crime investigations. He suggested that the West Bengal government's cyber crime branch, which has a specialized unit for such matters, also be instructed to file a separate report.

The court stated that it would consider Chakrabarti's request in the next hearing.

(With inputs from agencies.)