Kerala High Court Issues Notice On Kollam Doctor’s Parents’ Plea For CBI Probe Into Her Murder

The parents of Dr. Vandana Das, the 23-year-old house surgeon who was recently killed by an injured man at a government hospital in Kottarakkara, Kollam, have approached the Kerala High Court seeking transfer of probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). 

The Single Judge Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas on Friday considered the matter and issued notice to the respondent authorities. 

The case pertains to the brutal murder of Dr. Vandana during the wee hours of the morning on May 10, while she was on duty. The young house surgeon was stabbed multiple times by Sandeep, a school teacher, using dressing room scissors. The attacker was brought to the Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital by the police for treatment of his injuries.

The plea avers that despite the deceased being a doctor herself and being surrounded by medical practitioners, she did not receive immediate and adequate treatment. It has been alleged that the medico had first been taken to Vijaya Hospital where she remained without proper medical intervention for nearly an hour.

"However, she was shifted to KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, at the behest of directions 'issued from the top', and the authority on whose direction actions were initiated still remain a mystery," the plea adds.

It has been alleged despite there being various other 'top­-notch'  hospitals equipped with modem healthcare facilities nearby, she was not taken there.

The petitioners also allege that in an 'attempt to white-wash' the acts of the police officials involved, the ADGP had given a statement that Sandeep was a complainant and that he was brought to the hospital to dress his wounds.

However, according to the petitioners, as per the hospital records, Sandeep was an accused who had been arrested by the Pooyappally Police on a complaint that he was quarrelling with his mother. 

"The petitioners after the death of their only daughter and the registration of the crime, have contacted the hospital authorities and police officials several times to know about the development and various aspects concerning the case. However, they always received only silence in reply. It looked like the police are acting in the influence and coercion of some higher persons of whom the petitioners have no knowledge," the plea states. 

The matter has been posted for further consideration on July 21. 

The plea has been moved through Senior Advocate P. Vijaya Bhanu, and Advocates Sruthy N. Bhat, Nikita J. Mendez, M. Revikrishnan, Ajeesh K. Sasi, Rahul Sunil, P.M. Rafiq, and Sruthy K.K. 

Case Title: K.G. Mohandas & Anr. v. Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors.