Sanjay Roy found guilty in RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case in Kolkata
A Kolkata court has found Sanjay Roy guilty of the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a case that sparked nationwide outrage over women's safety.
The decision came just 57 days after the on-camera trial began on 12 November.
In a verdict delivered by Anirban Das, additional district and sessions judge of Sealdah court, Roy was convicted on Saturday under Sections 64, 66, and 103 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
These provisions address rape and prescribe punishments, including the death penalty or life imprisonment, for murder.
Roy, a police volunteer, claimed during the hearing that he had been framed.
The judge allowed him to speak before the sentence is officially pronounced today.
Meanwhile, the victim's parents expressed gratitude for the verdict, saying it upheld their faith in the judiciary.
The incident occurred on 9 August 2024 when the 28-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor's body was discovered in a hospital seminar room.
The crime led to widespread protests, with doctors at public hospitals demanding improved security and justice for their colleague.
Roy was arrested a day after the body was found.
While investigators asserted that Roy acted alone, the victim's family and junior doctors' groups suspected a larger conspiracy.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented evidence, including CCTV footage, linking Roy to the crime, and sought the harshest punishment.
However, the victim's parents have raised concerns about the thoroughness of the investigation, urging authorities to dig deeper.
"This couldn't have been done by one person alone. We demand a broader investigation to uncover the full truth," said the victim's parents.
The case has galvanised medical professionals nationwide, with the Junior Doctors' Front (JDF) planning a demonstration outside the court on Saturday afternoon. They are joined by several other medical associations, emphasizing that the fight for justice transcends this single case.
