The Sealdah Court on Monday sentenced Sanjay Roy, the civic volunteer convicted in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, to life imprisonment. He was found guilty by the CBI court on January 18 for the crime that took place on August 9, 2024.
Judge Anirban Das announced Roy’s sentence, imposing a life term and a fine of Rs 50,000 for the rape and murder of the trainee doctor.
During the hearing, Roy claimed, “I have been framed without any reason. I told you before that I always wear a Rudraksha chain. If I had committed the crime, it would have broken at the crime scene. I was not allowed to speak. They forced me to sign many papers. I was not given a chance to speak. You have seen all of this, sir. I told you before as well.”
In response, Judge Anirban Das remarked, “I gave you almost half a day to speak to me. I listened to you for three hours. All the charges, evidence, documents, and witnesses presented before me have been examined, and based on these, I found you guilty. You have already been proven guilty. Now, I just wanted to hear your thoughts about the punishment. Who is there in your family? Do they stay in touch with you?”
Roy, when asked about his family, said, “No, sir. I am in jail. They never visit me.”
The CBI lawyer sought the death penalty, referring to the case as the rarest of the rare.
“This is a rarest-of-the-rare case. The victim was a meritorious student and an asset to society. This incident has shaken the entire community. The parents have lost their daughter. If even doctors are not safe, then what can be said? Only the death penalty can restore confidence in society. We must restore society’s faith in the justice system,” the CBI lawyer stated.
Sanjay Roy was charged under Sections 64 (rape), 66 (punishment for causing death), and 103 (murder).
The minimum punishment under these sections includes rigorous imprisonment for not less than 10 years, which may extend to life imprisonment, while the maximum punishment is the death penalty.
The body of the postgraduate trainee was found in a seminar hall at the hospital in the early hours of August 9, 2024. She was allegedly killed after being raped.
Roy was arrested the following day, with Kolkata Police identifying him through a Bluetooth earphone found near the victim’s body. CCTV footage captured Roy entering the seminar hall with the device around his neck.
Dr Tapan Pramanik, a doctor at RG Kar Medical Hospital, expressed concerns about the investigation.
“There were multiple people involved in the RG Kar rape and murder case, and the investigation done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is 'totally worthless.' I will welcome the verdict whether it is life imprisonment or hanging till death. As per the CBI investigation, Sanjay Roy is the main culprit, but some reports of CBI have come out through media that 68 activities were recorded by CCTV, but no one could be identified except Sanjay Roy,” he said.
The incident sparked nationwide protests and outrage, demanding justice for the victim and accountability for the accused.
Follow us
