Sanjay Roy, the accused in the Kolkata rape-murder case, will be sentenced today after a CBI court convicted him on Saturday. He was found guilty of the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024. The case sparked protests and outrage among thousands of people nationwide.
The CBI court charged the civic volunteer under Section 64 (rape), Section 66 (punishment for causing death), and Section 103 (murder). The quantum of the punishment will be announced today.
Top Points in the Case:
- The minimum punishment under the sections includes rigorous imprisonment for not less than 10 years, which may extend to imprisonment for life, while the maximum punishment is the death penalty.
- A CBI court, convicting the civic volunteer, had said, “I have examined all the evidence and witnesses, also heard the arguments. After getting through all of these, I have found you guilty. You are guilty. You must be punished”.
- During the hearing, Sanjay Roy, pleaded not guilty and claimed that he was being framed.
The parents of the victim, who were present at the court hearing, broke down after hearing the judgment. "I kept full faith in you. Thanks to you for honouring our trust," he said.
The body of the woman postgraduate trainee was found in a seminar hall at the hospital in the early hours on August 9, 2024. She was allegedly killed after being raped. A civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, was arrested the next day in connection with the crime.
The incident led to nationwide protests and outrage by thousands of people. The matter took a violent turn after a mob vandalised the RG Kar hospital’s emergency ward on August 15 during a 'Reclaim the Night' rally organised by women and activists.
The Calcutta High Court took note of the matter and termed the case "extremely gruesome". It urged the protesting doctors to resume service. The NHRC also took notice of the matter.
The incident prompted then RG Kar College principal Sandip Ghosh to resign as the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government came under immense criticism over the handling of the case.
The CBI filed a chargesheet against accused Sanjoy Roy in the case almost two months after the incident on October 7 and the trial began at West Bengal’s Sealdah court on November 11.
