Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud dismissed rumors circulating on social media about the autopsy report in the case of the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. During the Supreme Court hearing on August 22, CJI Chandrachud addressed unverified claims that “151 mg of semen” was found in the victim’s body, cautioning against relying on social media for court arguments.
When a lawyer referenced autopsy details that had been circulating online, CJI Chandrachud firmly responded, “Don’t use social media to make submissions in court as we have the post-mortem report before us. Don’t read what is there on social media.” He further emphasized, “We have the actual autopsy report before us and we know what the 150 mg refers to.”
In the wake of nationwide outrage over the horrific crime, several social media accounts claimed that 150 milligrams of semen were found in the victim, a statistic that was widely reported by mainstream news outlets without proper verification. This figure was also mentioned in a petition filed by the victim’s family, which stated, “Petitioners assert that the post-mortem report provided devastating details that confirmed their worst fears,” and added, “The presence of 150 mg of semen in the hymen, a quantity suggesting involvement of more than one individual, further corroborated the suspicion of gang rape.”
During the hearing, the Supreme Court criticized the Bengal government for the handling of the case, particularly questioning why it was initially registered as an unnatural death (UD) despite evidence of rape and murder. The Court expressed concern over the timeline of events related to the postmortem and case registration.
Meanwhile, following an order from the Supreme Court, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took charge of security at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 22.
Sanjay Roy, the accused in the case, has been described by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources as a “sexual pervert” who has shown no remorse during interrogation. The case has sparked national outrage and widespread attention.