West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari suspended three senior IPS officers on May 15, 2026 [2], following alleged lapses in the RG Kar rape-murder investigation.
The move represents a significant escalation in state accountability regarding a case that has drawn intense public scrutiny. By targeting high-ranking officials, including the former head of the city's police force, the administration is signaling a zero-tolerance approach to investigative misconduct.
The suspended officers include former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Indira Mukherjee, and Abhishek Gupta [1]. Adhikari said the decision during a press conference held at Nabanna, the state secretariat in Kolkata [2].
According to state officials, the officers are accused of mishandling the probe and general dereliction of duty [1]. Specific allegations include the offering of a bribe to the victim's family, and the conduct of a press conference without the necessary written orders [3].
Three [1] senior officers were targeted in what is being described as the first major administrative action taken by the government in the RG Kar case [4]. The state has also ordered a formal inquiry into the lapses that occurred during the investigation [6].
This administrative action follows a period of mounting pressure to ensure a transparent and fair trial. The suspension of these officials is intended to remove potential obstructions from the ongoing legal process and restore public confidence in the state's police apparatus [5].
“West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari suspended three senior IPS officers”
The suspension of high-ranking police officials, particularly a former Police Commissioner, suggests that the state government is attempting to insulate the judicial process from internal police interference. By citing specific failures such as unauthorized press conferences and attempted bribery, the administration is attempting to shift the narrative from systemic failure to individual professional misconduct.
