RG Kar hospital intern misidentified as TMC leader's son, linked to doctor's murder

(Trigger warning: This story contains references to rape and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.)

What's the claim?

A photo of a young man in casual attire has been widely circulated on social media, falsely claiming that he is the son of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Soumen Mahapatra and that he is involved in the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal.

On August 9, 2024, a trainee doctor was found dead at RG Kar Hospital, allegedly raped and murdered. The incident has sparked nationwide discussions about the safety of women and healthcare professionals in India, leading to widespread protests and demands for a thorough investigation.

The Bengali text above the image alleges a cover-up and criticizes the investigation. It claims that the photo shows 'Dr. Subhadip Singh Mahapatra,' purportedly the son of TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra, who has been missing since the incident. The caption implies an attempt to shield the accused due to their influential connections. Mahapatra is a former West Bengal minister and a member of the ruling party.

The translated caption reads: "Didn't I say? If people are alert and ask questions, clues will emerge from the underworld. According to journalist Apoorva Chatterjee, this RG Kar intern, Dr. Subhadip Singh Mahapatra, the son of a powerful father, has been missing since the incident and might be underground. Do you see why there are so many interns on the investigation committee appointed by the health department and hospital? Why are the supposed protests held behind closed doors? Why did the revolutionaries of RG Kar leave the meeting when the demand for the principal's removal was raised in the Joint Movement Committee's general body meeting?"

The Bengali caption of the posts translates to: "The real culprit of the RG Kar incident. This is the son of Minister Soumen Mahapatra. Let this picture go viral." Archived versions of these posts can be found here, here, here, and here.

Screenshots of the viral posts. (Source: X / Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the young man in the image is not the minister's son but the son of a teacher. He has no connection to the minister and is not missing.

What are the facts?

Sanjay Roy has been identified as the prime suspect in the RG Kar murder case. The Kolkata Police arrested Roy on the same day after discovering his Bluetooth headset at the crime scene. Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police Disaster Management Force, was stationed near the medical college and was known for acting as a middleman for patients. During questioning, he confessed to the crime.

In response to the social media claims, the West Bengal Police (archived here) issued a statement urging people to avoid spreading misinformation. The police clarified that the rumor about an intern named Subhadip Singh Mahapatra being missing and linked to a state minister was false.

They stated that Subhadip, who resides in Bankura and whose father, Prabir Singh Mohapatra, is a primary school teacher with no connections to any minister, was not missing but had been at the hospital since the day of the incident. The statement emphasized the potential harm of such unfounded rumors and noted that FIRs had been filed at Tala police station in Kolkata and Sarenga police station in Bankura, with legal action planned.

Screenshot of the Facebook post by the West Bengal Police addressing misinformation about Subhadip Singh Mahapatra and the RG Kar Hospital case. (Source: Facebook)

The post also included a screenshot of the false claim, overlaid with a fake stamp, and a video of Prabir Singh Mahapatra, who confirmed that his son, Subhadip, is pursuing an MBBS internship at RG Kar Hospital and is not related to Soumen Mahapatra. He warned against fake news and reported filing an FIR against the misinformation at Tala police station.

TMC leader, wife deny allegations

TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra and his wife, Sumana Mahapatra, have strongly denied the social media allegations linking their son to the rape and murder case. At a press conference (archived here) on August 13, 2024, they expressed frustration with party members allegedly spreading these rumors.

MLA Mahapatra stated, "My son's name is Bodhisattva Mahapatra. He graduated in 2017. The deceased is the same age as my daughter. We also want a proper investigation. My son, my family, and I will support a thorough investigation." He added that his son, now serving as the Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) at Panskura-I Pitpur Block Health Centre, was not involved in the case.

Sumana Mahapatra noted that at the time of the incident, her son was with his pregnant wife at Apollo Hospital for a scan, dined out, and then returned home.

The RG Kar murder case

News 18 reported that Kolkata Police have filed 10 FIRs and initiated 35 cases related to fake news concerning the rape and murder case. Authorities have issued over 200 notices within 24 hours, demanding an end to misinformation that could hinder justice or incite unrest.

The verdict

The viral image, which falsely claims that the young man is the son of TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra and is involved in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, actually shows Subhadip Singh Mahapatra, the son of a teacher from Bankura, West Bengal.