Supreme Court directs Wikipedia to remove identifying details in Kolkata doctor rape case

In a significant development in the Kolkata rape case, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, has instructed Wikipedia to remove the name and photograph revealing the identity of the victim, a medical professional. The Chief Justice emphasized that disclosing the identity of rape and murder victims violates legal principles. “The governing principle is that identity of the victim in rape and murder shall not be disclosed. Wikipedia shall therefore comply with the previous order passed,” stated Chief Justice Chandrachud.

RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape-murder | Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informs Supreme Court that victim's name and photographs are there in Wikipedia. SC says - we will pass direction.

— ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2024

Wikipedia's resistance to remove victim’s details

During recent court proceedings, the victim’s family’s counsel reported that Wikipedia had refused to remove the deceased doctor’s name and photograph from its platform. Wikipedia reportedly argued that such content cannot be “censored.” The Solicitor General, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), also voiced concerns about Wikipedia’s non-compliance. In response, Chief Justice Chandrachud assured that a directive would be issued to address the issue.

Bengal government’s compliance with CBI request

Apart from this, the Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal has revealed that the Bengal government has fully complied with requests for CCTV footage, countering claims by the CBI that only a 27-minute segment was provided. Sibal affirmed that all relevant recordings have been submitted to the CBI for investigation.

Moreover, Senior Advocate Karuna Nandy, representing junior doctors, accused the state government of issuing misleading statements about medical care accessibility. Nandy argued that the government’s portrayal of a collapsing medical system due to junior doctors’ strikes is inaccurate, noting that senior doctors are supporting their colleagues by working extra hours.

Request for status report on financial irregularities

Furthermore, Nandy has requested the court to direct the CBI to provide a status report on financial irregularities in addition to the ongoing rape and murder investigation. This request underscores the broader implications of the case and the need for transparency in all aspects of the investigation.