Verdict has finally been announced in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital junior doctor rape and murder case after a long wait of five months. The Additional District and Sessions Court in Kolkata’s Sealdah on Saturday convicted the main accused Sanjoy Roy as guilty in the case. Sanjoy Roy, who was a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was charged with committing the crime on a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee at the state-run hospital on August 9 last year.
Sanjay has been announced guilty under the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – convicted of rape under Section 64, convicted of murder under Sections 66 and 103(1).
The court relied on forensic reports which pointed to the involvement of Sanjay Roy. The 33-year-old will be sentenced on Monday. While announcing him guilty, the judge said, “You must be punished and the way you throttled the victim, you can be given death or imprisonment. The quantum will be given on Monday.”
However, questions are being raised whether Sanjay Roy is just one among the culprits while the other names remain carefully shielded. While Sanjay had initially confessed to his crime, he later said in the court that he was “completely innocent” and was being framed while the “real criminals are roaming free”.
RG Kar Medical College & Hospital junior doctor rape-murder case
The 31-year-old trainee doctor’s body was found in a classroom at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the early hours of August 9, prompting doctors to stay off work for weeks to demand justice for the deceased and better security at public hospitals. The brutal crime triggered nationwide protests by doctors seeking enhanced security for medical professionals at workplace.
CBI probe and chargesheet
Within a few days of the crime, while questions were being raised on the role of Kolkata Police including allegations of tampering with evidence by hospital authorities, former principal Sandip Ghosh and negligence by the police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case.
The CBI in its chargesheet identified Sanjay Roy as the “sole prime accused” in the rape and murder case. As per the chargesheet, the victim’s blood was found on accused Sanjay Roy’s trousers and shoes. Strands of his hair and a Bluetooth earpiece that synced with his mobile phone were also recovered from the crime scene.
Sanjay Roy, a scapegoat?
“Not just one, but the DNA report shows the presence of four boys and one girl. We will feel some relief when the accused are punished. Until we get justice, we will keep knocking on the doors of the court and will also seek the support of the people of the country,” the victim’s father told news agency ANI shortly before the verdict was announced on Saturday.
“The CBI has done nothing in this matter. There is no question of satisfaction here. We have raised several questions before the (Calcutta) High Court and the Supreme Court. We have sought answers from the court itself. We did not seek answers from the CBI, but the court assigned all responsibility to the CBI,” he further said expressing dissatisfaction with the CBI probe.
