As the city approaches the grim one-year anniversary of the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, shocking revelations have emerged about the behaviour of the convicted perpetrator, Sanjay Roy, inside the Presidency Correctional Facility. Instead of showing any remorse, Roy is reportedly continuing his pattern of aggression and indiscipline behind bars.
Roy, a former civic volunteer of Kolkata police, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a CBI court after being found guilty of the crime that took place on the night of August 9, 2024. The incident became a national outcry, triggering protests across West Bengal and in different parts of the country.
Following an initial investigation by the Kolkata Police, the Calcutta High Court handed over the case to the CBI, which confirmed Roy as the prime accused in its chargesheet.
Even though sentenced to life imprisonment, a verdict that allowed a scope for reformation, sources within the correctional facility claim Roy is reluctant to utilise that opportunity. “Rather, he has become increasingly aggressive and non-compliant, refusing to follow prison rules or complete his assigned duties,” said a jail source.
According to prison officials, Roy was initially assigned to gardening work, a standard duty for unskilled inmates. While he followed orders at first, he soon began misbehaving with fellow prisoners and later, with staff and officers. Roy has shown no improvement in conduct despite giving repeated warnings, raising concerns among authorities.
According to jail rule-book, convicts are categorised based on their skill levels. “Unskilled workers earn Rs 105 per day, semi-skilled Rs 120 and skilled Rs 135. They may use the funds for canteen purchases or to support their families. Roy, categorised as an unskilled worker, has lost access to these benefits due to his behaviour,” said the jail source.
Also Read: Calcutta HC to hear RG Kar convict's plea for acquittal
Prison authorities are now considering action against him. Possible penalties include suspension of Roy’s financial privileges and denial of visitation rights. However, officials have remained tight-lipped on the matter, likely due to the sensitivity of the case.
When contacted, Additional Director General (Prisons) Lakshminarayan Meena said, “I am not aware of the matter.” Roy’s lawyer, Kaushik Gupta, declined to comment. Eminent psychologist Tirthankar Guhathakurta said that behavioural changes in prisoners can stem from prolonged confinement, mental distress or fear of future legal consequences. However, he noted, “An accurate assessment can only be made through a clinical examination.”
Meanwhile, legal proceedings surrounding the case continue. Sanjay Roy was convicted and sentenced; two other key figures—Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Abhijit Mondal, the former officer-in-charge of Tala police station—were arrested by the CBI but never formally charged.
Also Read: Court rejects RG Kar victim's parents plea to visit crime scene
Follow us
