Sanjay Roy Convicted in Gruesome RG Kar Doctor Rape-Murder Case
A Kolkata court has found Sanjay Roy, a 33-year-old former civic police volunteer, guilty of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor from the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The conviction comes more than a year after the horrifying crime sent shockwaves through West Bengal and the nation, sparking widespread protests and demands for justice. Roy’s sentencing is scheduled for Monday.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: On Sealdah Court pronouncing accused Sanjay Roy guilty in the RG Kar case, West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, ” Verdict has not come yet, he was framed with charges, his punishment will be declared on Monday, he should get capital… pic.twitter.com/fJHQMDQ58A
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2025
The 31-year-old doctor, referred to as “Abhaya” by the media in a nod to the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, was on duty on the night of August 8 last year. Her body was discovered the next morning in a seminar hall of the hospital, igniting outrage and paralyzing Bengal with protests demanding accountability and safety for healthcare workers.
The Verdict
Delivering the 160-page judgment, the Additional District and Sessions Court in Sealdah convicted Roy under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those for rape, murder, and causing death. Judge Anirban Das, while announcing the verdict, criticized lapses by the hospital administration and the police that complicated the investigation.
The victim’s father, visibly emotional, expressed gratitude to the court for upholding justice. The judge assured that the sentencing hearing, set for Monday, will consider all aspects before determining the punishment.
Convict’s Contradictory Claims
Sanjay Roy, who had initially confessed to the crime, later claimed he was being framed. Upon being brought to the courtroom amid tight security, he alleged that certain influential figures, including an “IPS officer,” were involved. Despite his assertions of innocence, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe from Kolkata Police, maintained his guilt.
Investigation
Roy was arrested shortly after the victim’s body was found. The case saw a massive public outcry, with thousands taking to the streets and doctors going on strike to demand safer working conditions. Protests escalated when allegations of evidence tampering surfaced, with mobs vandalizing hospital facilities.
In addition to Roy, hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and a local police officer, Abhijit Mondal, were arrested for allegedly destroying evidence. However, both secured bail due to delays in charges being pursued by the CBI. The court’s full judgment, yet to be uploaded, is expected to shed light on these allegations.
The conviction has brought a sense of hope to the medical fraternity, who had demanded reforms and enhanced security in hospitals. The case highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by healthcare workers and the urgent need for systemic changes to ensure their safety.
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