Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Letter by DIG with the Kolkata Crime Branch, Dr Akash Nag, to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting his withdrawal from the investigation of the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, citing political pressure.
Fact
No such officer; letter is fabricated, clarifies CBI.
Several social media users are circulating a purported letter from “Dr Akash Nag, IPS”, claiming to be a DIG and joint director at the Crime Branch in Kolkata, and addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting for permission to withdraw from the investigation of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on the night of August 8.
According to the letter, which also has a CBI letterhead, Nag alleges that the investigation has become “heavily manipulated due to undue political and social pressures”, with “obstruction at every step, compromising the integrity of the process”. The letter went viral amid a war of words between leaders of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s party TMC and the BJP-led Centre over allegations that the local police did not perform a thorough initial investigation into the Kolkata rape and murder case.
The archived version of the post can be seen here. We received this claim on our Whatsapp tipline (9999499044), too, requesting us to fact-check it.
Fact Check
Newchecker noticed that the designation of “Dr Akash Nag” varied across the letter, raising our suspicions. We looked up the Kolkata Police and West Bengal CID websites and did not find any officer by the name of Dr Akash Nag.
Newschecker then ran a keyword search for “Dr Akash Nag CBI letter Kolkata”, which led us to this clarification by the CBI on Twitter on August 20, 2024, dismissing the letter as fake.
The post led us to an August 20, 2024 press release issued by the CBI regarding the letter.
“A fake letter in the name of a person named Dr Akash Nag and claiming to be DIG, Joint Director, Crime Branch, Kolkata under the official banner “Central Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Deputy Inspector General, Anti Corruption Branch, Kolkata” and addressed to Union Home Secretary is circulating in Social Media through Whatsapp, etc, about the case related to rape and murder of a trainee doctor of RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata. It is clarified that the said letter is a fake one. The investigation of the case is being handled by CBI Headquarters, Delhi. Moreover, there is no officer in CBI by the name and designation of Dr. Akash Nag, DIG, Joint Director, Crime Branch, ACB, Kolkata. The contents of said letter are false and hence vehemently denied,” read the press release.
News reports on CBI’s clarification and PIB’s tweet can be seen here, here and here, confirming that the viral letter is fabricated.
Also Read: Viral Claim Of ‘Reclaim The Night’ Protester Being Raped And Murdered Found To Be False
Conclusion
A fake letter from an ‘IPS officer’ to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting permission to withdraw from the investigation of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital goes viral.
Result: False
Sources
CBI press release, August 20, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
