Death Penalty or Not: Sealdah Court to Decide Sanjay Roy’s Fate in RG Kar Rape and Murder Case

All eyes are on Kolkata's Sealdah Court today as it is set to announce the quantum of punishment for Sanjay Roy, the sole accused in the RG Kar case, who was convicted on Saturday. Judge Anirban Das found Roy guilty under sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The court will decide whether he will face the death penalty or life imprisonment. Sanjay Roy had raped and murdered the on duty doctor on August 9, and was arrested by Kolkata Police on August 10. The horrific crime sparked widespread outrage and protests nationwide, with the public demanding immediate justice for the slain doctor.

"On the basis of evidences I have found you guilty of the crime. You will be punished. I will hear you on Monday and the quantum of punishment will be announced on that day. Under section 64 are liable for minimum 10 years and maximum life imprisonment. Under section 66 you are liable for life imprisonment and May get awarded death sentence” said Judge Anirban Das while communicating the judgement to Sanjay Roy on Saturday.

Immediately after the judgment was communicated to him, Sanjay Roy reacted vehemently, insisting he was falsely implicated and asserting that the 'rudraksh mala' he wears around his neck would have broken if he had committed such a heinous crime.

"I wear a threaded rudraksh mala, sir. I have not committed this crime. Had I done so, the rudraksh mala would have broken immediately and scattered around the room," said a visibly agitated Sanjay.

The court then informed the accused that he would be given an opportunity to speak on Monday, when the quantum of his punishment would be announced. "The accused will be heard on Monday. He will now be sent to judicial custody. His punishment will be announced at 12:30," the judge stated.

The sentence in the RG Kar case comes 165 days after the heinous crime. Sanjay Roy was convicted guilty of raping and murdering the 31-year-old on-duty doctor on August 9. He was arrested by Kolkata Police on August 10 and later handed over to the CBI when the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the central agency on August 13, following protests over alleged mishandling by the Kolkata Police.

The CBI identified Roy as the sole perpetrator of the crime. The central agency filed its charge sheet on October 7, presenting evidence, including testimonies from over 120 witnesses, post-mortem reports, forensic analysis, and polygraph tests. Key evidence included DNA matches from the victim’s body, injuries on Roy consistent with a struggle, and the missing Bluetooth earphone and bloodstains on his clothing, linking him to the crime. Despite undergoing a lie detector test, Roy refused a narco test. Further investigation, including re-examining viscera samples and forming a multi-institutional medical board (MIMB), confirmed the victim's cause of death as strangulation and smothering, with evidence of sexual assault. The MIMB, consisting of doctors from AIIMS New Delhi and other Central Government hospitals, upheld the post-mortem findings, despite protests questioning the Kolkata Police's involvement. The CBI has sought the highest punishment for Roy, calling the crime "rarest of the rare."

Timeline of the RG Kar Case:
• August 9, 2024: The body of the young doctor is discovered in the seminar room at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

• August 10, 2024: Civic volunteer Sanjay Roy is arrested.

• August 13, 2024: The Calcutta High Court transfers the investigation to the CBI.

• August 14, 2024: A 25-member CBI team is formed to investigate the case.

• August 15, 2024 (Post-midnight): A mob storms RG Kar and vandalizes the emergency department.

• August 18, 2024: The Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of the matter and schedules a hearing for August 20.

• August 20, 2024: The Supreme Court holds its first hearing and forms a 10-member task force to create a national roadmap for the safety and security of doctors.

• August 24, 2024: Sanjay Roy and six others undergo lie detection tests.

• September 3, 2024: Former RG Kar Principal Sandip Ghosh is arrested by the CBI in an alleged corruption case and later linked to the rape and murder.

• September 15, 2024: CBI arrests Tala Police Station OC Abhijit Mondal in connection with the rape and murder case.

• October 7, 2024: The CBI files its charge sheet, naming Sanjay Roy as the primary accused.

• November 4, 2024: Charges are framed against Sanjay Roy at Sealdah Court.

• November 11, 2024: The trial begins at Sealdah Court.

• January 9, 2025: The trial concludes; the judgment is set to be delivered on January 18.

• January 18, 2025: Sanjay Roy is pronounced guilty by Judge Anirban Das.

• January 20, 2025: Quantum of punishment to be decided by the trial court.