CJI Dismisses Social Media Claims in Kolkata Rape Case, Slams Police Delay

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 23rd August. Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Thursday dismissed the “151 mg semen” theory in the Kolkata rape and murder case and advised a lawyer against relying on social media for courtroom arguments. The comments were made during a suo motu hearing by a three-judge bench led by CJI Chandrachud regarding the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on August 9.

During the hearing, a lawyer referenced claims circulating on social media about the post-mortem report, which mentioned “151 mg of semen.” CJI Chandrachud rebuked the lawyer, stating, “Don’t confuse this. Don’t use social media to make arguments in court. We have specifically the post-mortem report before us and we know what that 151 refers to.” He emphasized that legal arguments should not be based on social media misinformation.

Earlier reports suggesting 150 mg of semen implied gang rape, but Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal had refuted these claims, criticizing the spread of inaccurate information. “I don’t know where they have found this kind of information. It is circulating in media in all kinds of forms, creating confusion,” Goyal said at a press conference.

The Supreme Court also expressed concerns over the Kolkata Police’s handling of the case, criticizing the 14-hour delay in filing the first information report (FIR) and questioning the procedural delays. The bench, including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, demanded explanations for the delay and scrutinized the timing of the FIR and other formalities.

The Supreme Court is reviewing multiple petitions related to the case, in which the victim, a postgraduate trainee doctor, was found dead in a hospital seminar hall. Medical examinations confirmed rape. A civic volunteer named Sanjoy Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police the day after the incident, but the case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to concerns over the city police’s progress. The CBI has yet to make any arrests in connection with the case.