We were offered money: Kolkata doctor's mother accuses Mamata Banerjee of lies

The mother of the trainee doctor, who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month, has lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of falsehoods and alleging that compensation was offered to silence them.

Her outcry came after Banerjee dismissed claims earlier that day, denying allegations that the Kolkata Police had attempted to bribe the bereaved family. Banerjee had labelled the accusations against her administration as “slander.”

In a public statement, the grieving mother charged, “The Chief Minister is lying. She told us we would receive compensation and suggested we build something in my daughter’s memory. I had told her that I would only accept any compensation after justice for my daughter is served.”

She also alleged that Banerjee was attempting to suppress the ongoing protests over the rape and murder of her daughter, whose semi-naked body was discovered at the hospital on August 9.

The mother harshly criticized Banerjee’s call for people to abandon protests and focus on the upcoming Durga Puja festivities, calling it “inhuman.” She stated, “As a mother who has lost her daughter, I find this heartless. If people wish to celebrate, they can, but my family is engulfed in darkness. My daughter used to celebrate Durga Puja, but how can I urge others to celebrate during such a time?”

Taking a direct swipe at the Chief Minister, she asked, “If this tragedy had struck her family, would she have made the same appeal?”

The victim's father and aunt had previously alleged that Kolkata Police attempted a cover-up and offered money in exchange for their silence.

The protests in Kolkata and nationwide erupted after the victim’s body was found. The next day, a Kolkata Police civil volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested in connection with the crime and is now in judicial custody. The case is currently under investigation by the CBI.