Verdict in RG Kar Rape-Murder Case Sparks Widespread Reactions

PTI and Agencies, Calcutta, January 20, 2025 : In a highly anticipated ruling, Sanjay Roy, a former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was sentenced to life imprisonment till death in the infamous RG Kar rape-murder case. The decision, delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das at Sealdah Court, has sparked intense public debate and reactions from various political leaders and activists.

During the court’s pronouncement of the verdict earlier today, Roy vehemently denied committing the crime, claiming he was “being framed.” The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had taken over the investigation from Kolkata Police, had argued for the maximum punishment, describing the crime as one that falls under the "rarest of rare" category. They urged for the death penalty to be imposed on Roy to ensure justice and maintain public faith in the justice system.

However, Judge Anirban Das disagreed, stating that the case did not meet the threshold required for a death sentence and sentenced Roy to life imprisonment instead. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Roy and directed the West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to pay Rs 17 lakh in compensation to the victim’s family.

The victim, a 31-year-old doctor, was found dead in a semi-naked state on August 9, 2024, on the third floor of the seminar hall at RG Kar Hospital, a state-run facility in Kolkata. Roy was arrested the following day and was convicted under sections 64 (rape), 66 (punishment for causing death), and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Despite the court's decision, there has been considerable uproar, particularly from the victim’s family. Her parents expressed their shock at the judgment and vowed to challenge the ruling in a higher court. The victim’s mother questioned the court’s reasoning, asking, “How is this not the rarest of rare cases? An on-duty doctor was raped and murdered. We are dismayed. There was a larger conspiracy behind this crime.”

The case has also drawn strong political reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee voiced her dissatisfaction with the verdict, expressing that her government had sought the death penalty for the accused and had ensured capital punishment in other cases under state jurisdiction. She criticized the decision to transfer the investigation to the CBI, stating that had the case remained with the Kolkata Police, the death penalty would have been pursued.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also expressed his disappointment, stating that the people of Bengal had expected a harsher sentence. “We saw that only one accused was punished, so this decision of the court is not as per the expectations of the common people,” he said.

Former National Commission for Women chairperson and Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma strongly criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led government, alleging that the West Bengal administration was “completely involved” in the case and that the verdict would have been different if the government had not interfered.

Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar called for a more thorough investigation, echoing public skepticism regarding the involvement of other individuals. "The public of West Bengal does not believe that only one person is involved in the RG Kar rape-murder case. There should be more depth in this investigation, as Sanjay Roy is saying there were police and other people involved," Majumdar remarked.

This case continues to draw attention, as it raises important questions about the justice system’s response to heinous crimes, public expectations, and the role of political interference in legal proceedings. As the victim’s family prepares to challenge the ruling, the matter is likely to remain a point of contention in the coming months.