Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Former Panihati Chairman Arrested in RG Kar Cremation Case
A doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was raped and murdered in August 2024.
Her family says her cremation was rushed before they had enough time to say goodbye.
They allege that three people pressured and threatened the family.
Police have opened a separate case about what happened before the cremation.
Somnath Dey, a former local municipality chairman, was arrested in Bangalore.
Nirmal Ghosh and Sanjib Mukherjee are also named in the case.
The original murder investigation led to the conviction of civic volunteer Sanjay Roy.
The family was unhappy with that result and asked for another review.
The Central Bureau of Investigation’s court-monitored review has not finished.
Somnath Dey, former chairman of Panihati Municipality, was arrested in Bangalore on Thursday.
Dey, Nirmal Ghosh and Sanjib Mukherjee face allegations involving evidence tampering and a rushed cremation.
The family alleges the trio pressured them to take the doctor’s body to the crematorium immediately.
The case concerns the cremation following the August 9, 2024 rape and murder of an RG Kar doctor.
The Central Bureau of Investigation convicted civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, while a court-monitored review remains ongoing.
- Who
- Somnath Dey was arrested; Nirmal Ghosh and Sanjib Mukherjee are also accused in the cremation-related case.
- What
- Police allege that the doctor’s cremation was improperly rushed and may have involved evidence tampering.
- When
- Dey was arrested on Thursday; the underlying rape and murder occurred on August 9, 2024.
- Where
- Dey was arrested in Bangalore; the alleged cremation-related events occurred in Panihati, West Bengal.
- Why
- Police opened the case after allegations that the family was pressured to cremate the body quickly, possibly preventing a second post-mortem or concealing evidence.
Fresh Cremation Investigation
Earlier Murder Probe Findings
Whether the cremation requires further scrutiny
Fresh Cremation Investigation
The family alleges that Somnath Dey, Nirmal Ghosh and Sanjib Mukherjee entered the home, pressured relatives and rushed the body to Panihati crematorium, potentially preventing a second post-mortem or concealing evidence.
Earlier Murder Probe Findings
The Central Bureau of Investigation’s original probe named no other suspect in the rape-and-murder case, and a city court convicted Sanjay Roy based on its findings.
Scope of the investigation
Fresh Cremation Investigation
Barrackpore Police opened a separate case covering alleged trespass, intimidation, disappearance of evidence, incorrect records, conspiracy and related offences.
Earlier Murder Probe Findings
The article reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation’s court-monitored review of the case, covering the period from the doctor’s dinner through the cremation, is still underway; it does not report a final finding on the new allegations.
- Arrested
- Somnath Dey, former chairman of Panihati Municipality
- Arrest location
- Bangalore
- Other accused
- Former Panihati Trinamool Congress MLA Nirmal Ghosh and former councillor Sanjib Mukherjee
- Underlying crime
- Rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital
- Date of underlying crime
- August 9, 2024
- Original conviction
- Civic volunteer Sanjay Roy was convicted by a city court
- Current status
- A court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation review remains unfinished