In a significant development in the RG Kar rape and murder case, Sanjoy Roy, the prime accused, has been found guilty by the Sealdah Court in Kolkata. The court has sentenced Roy to life imprisonment till death, along with a fine of Rs 50,000, acknowledging the gruesome nature of the crime.
The Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court on January 18 pronounced Sanjoy Roy guilty in the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Roy was convicted under several charges, including rape and murder, and was accused of assaulting and killing the victim, a trainee doctor who had been on duty for over 36 hours. The court highlighted sections 64, 66, and 103/1 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in its judgment, marking a crucial step in the case nearly six months after Roy’s arrest.
The incident, which occurred on August 9 last year, sent shockwaves across the country. The victim’s body was discovered in the seminar room of the hospital, where she had reportedly gone to rest after her shift. The brutal nature of the crime ignited widespread outrage and led to ongoing protests by junior doctors in West Bengal, calling for justice for the victim and stronger security measures at government hospitals.
The CBI, which took over the investigation from the Kolkata Police following directions from the Calcutta High Court, had been pushing for the harshest penalty for Roy. During the sentencing hearing, the agency emphasised the severity of the crime, describing it as a “rarest of rare” case. “This crime has shaken the nation. The victim was a young doctor who was serving the community and had gone to rest in the hospital to continue helping patients. To commit such an offence against her is a rarest of rare crime,” the CBI argued in court.
Despite the intense emotional response and calls for a death sentence, the Sealdah Court opted for life imprisonment till death for Roy, acknowledging the gravity of the crime and its impact on society. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the convict.
