RG Kar Medical College Rape-Murder Case: Conviction Delivered, Sentence to Be Announced on January 20

Agencies, January 18, 2025, Kolkata: A Kolkata court on Saturday convicted Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer with the city police, in the horrifying rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, which took place on August 9, 2024, triggered nationwide protests and demands for heightened security at public hospitals.

The additional district and sessions judge Anirban Das pronounced Roy guilty under Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The court stated that the sentence, will be announced on Monday, January 20, at 12:30 PM. It may range from life imprisonment to capital punishment, 

The victim, a postgraduate medical trainee, was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Biological evidence, including DNA, saliva, and toxicology reports, linked Roy to the crime. CCTV footage showed him entering the seminar hall with a Bluetooth device that was later found near the victim’s body. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the probe from Kolkata Police amidst allegations of evidence tampering, presented 11 pieces of evidence confirming Roy’s involvement.

The victim's family, present during the verdict, expressed both relief and sorrow. "You have lived up to the faith we had placed in you," the victim’s father told the judge after the conviction.

Roy, who pleaded innocence during the trial, claimed he was framed, stating, “I did not do this, sir. The ones who have done this, why are they not being held?” The court dismissed his defense, which argued that the crime was logistically impossible given the seminar hall’s proximity to a 24/7 nursing station near the TB ward.

The in-camera trial began on November 12, 2024, and included testimonies from 50 witnesses. The prosecution described the crime as "rarest of the rare" and called for the maximum punishment, citing the victim's struggle, forensic evidence, and CCTV footage as critical proofs of Roy’s guilt.

The case has been a flashpoint for public anger, with junior doctors and medical associations across India staging protests demanding justice and improved security for healthcare workers. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) labeled the case as "rarest of the rare" and called for the harshest possible punishment for Roy.

Protesters gathered outside the Sealdah court complex on Saturday, expressing skepticism that Roy acted alone. “We do not believe he is the only person responsible,” said a junior doctor participating in the demonstrations.

The victim’s parents have consistently alleged that other individuals were involved in the crime and accused authorities of attempting to shield those responsible. They highlighted procedural lapses, including delays in registering the FIR and tampering with evidence by the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and the ex-officer in charge of Tala Police Station.

The BJP criticized the West Bengal government and Kolkata Police for their handling of the case, accusing them of neglect and complicity. Party leaders also questioned the lack of thorough investigation into the involvement of additional perpetrators.

The nation now awaits the sentencing on January 20, with the victim’s family and the medical community hoping for a verdict that delivers justice and establishes a precedent against such heinous crimes. The case stands as a grim reminder of the need for institutional reforms and heightened security in public hospitals.