In a landmark judgment, a Kolkata court today sentenced Sanjay Roy, the convict in the rape and murder case of a 34-year-old postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, to life imprisonment. Justice Anirban Das ruled that the case did not fall under the “rarest of the rare” category, which would have warranted the death penalty. Additionally, the court directed the West Bengal government to provide ₹17 lakh as compensation to the victim’s parents. While the family expressed their disinterest in monetary compensation, the judge explained that the payment was mandated by law and could be used as they deemed fit. The crime, which took place during the victim’s night shift, had ignited nationwide outrage and led to protests demanding safety for medical professionals.
During the court proceedings, Sanjay Roy denied the allegations, claiming he had been framed and citing circumstantial evidence in his defense. Despite his statements, the court concluded that the charges were proven beyond doubt. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the case, had pushed for the death penalty, arguing that the crime was a “rarest of the rare” instance. However, the defense referred to Supreme Court guidelines to challenge this demand. Justice Das, after considering all arguments, ruled for life imprisonment instead. The sentencing day saw heavy police deployment around the Sealdah court to prevent disruptions, as protests continued to erupt over the perceived gaps in the investigation.
The victim’s parents and protesters believe that Roy was not the only perpetrator involved in the heinous crime. They criticized the CBI for its failure to apprehend other potential culprits, calling for stricter action to prevent such incidents in the future. The brutal killing, which took place in a seminar room, had sparked nationwide demonstrations, including a temporary suspension of services by doctors, who demanded urgent reforms for workplace safety in medical institutions.
