A Kolkata court has sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment for the sexual assault and murder of a junior doctor who was on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Additional District and Sessions Court in Sealdah convicted Roy on Saturday, following his arrest on August 10, 2024, after the tragic incident, which occurred a day prior when the woman’s body was discovered in a seminar room of the hospital.
Judge Anirban Das stated that while the crime was heinous, it did not meet the criteria for the death penalty, which is reserved for the “rarest of the rare” cases. Roy faced charges under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—specifically, rape, causing injury resulting in the victim’s death, and murder.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which conducted the investigation, sought the death penalty for Roy, while his defense counsel requested a lesser sentence. In delivering the sentence, Judge Das emphasized that Roy would spend the rest of his life in prison and imposed a fine of ₹50,000. Furthermore, he directed the West Bengal government to pay ₹17 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family, with ₹10 lakh for the death and ₹7 lakh for the rape. However, the victim’s father declined to accept any compensation, stating that no amount could compensate for their loss. The judge also remarked on the state’s responsibility to protect the doctor while she was at work.
Despite his conviction, Roy maintained his innocence and claimed he was falsely accused. The case raised serious questions about the investigation, with the victim’s parents expressing dissatisfaction with the court’s decision. They alleged that the inquiry was inadequate and that other perpetrators may have been involved. They expressed disbelief that this case was not considered among the most heinous crimes.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also voiced her unhappiness with the life sentence handed to Roy, insisting that the crime warranted capital punishment. She criticized the transfer of the investigation to the CBI and believed that better outcomes could have been achieved had the case remained with the Kolkata Police.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described the life sentence as a “travesty of justice,” urging a review of the case and calling for scrutiny of the actions of former police officials and the Chief Minister, alleging that vital evidence may have been destroyed.
The Supreme Court has previously taken notice of the brutal nature of this case and questioned the West Bengal police regarding their handling of the situation, including their delayed reporting actions and their failure to safeguard medical personnel during unrest surrounding the incident.
