NEW DELHI: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, while addressing the media on Thursday, urged Kapil Sibal to quit his role in the legal proceedings concerning the Kolkata rape-murder. Sibal, a former Congress leader, is representing the West Bengal government in the Supreme Court in connection with the rape case.
“I would like to request him to withdraw from this case. This is the sentiment of the people of Bengal,” said Chowdhury. “Keeping in mind the rage of the common people in Bengal, it will be better if you do not defend criminals.”
Kapil Sibal, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court of India, is currently part of a 21-member team representing the West Bengal government in the top court in the Kolkata rape-murder proceedings.
The case is being heard by a three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra.
The West Bengal government has been under fire by the court for inadequate action in preventing the heinous crime as well as the missteps in the subsequent investigation.
The case involves the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, whose body was found at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
Chowdhury went on to criticise Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the Bengal Chief Minister met with the victim’s family and tried to pay them Rs 10 lakh in compensation as a means to shut them up.
“I feel bad seeing people call you names on social media,” said Chowdhury. “Especially because you were once a minister in our party. That too, you were the Union Minister of Human Resource Development, not a minor minister. Keeping all this in mind, it is my request to you to withdraw from this case.”
Agencies

Agencies