"Not a rarest of rare case...": Kolkata Court gives Life Imprisonment to Sanjay Roy for Brutal Rape and Murder of RG Kar Doctor

In a landmark judgement, Kolkata’s Sealdah Court on Monday handed down life imprisonment to Sanjay Roy, the sole accused responsible for the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old, on-duty PGT doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Judge Anirban Das convicted Roy under the stringent Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Roy had raped and murdered the on duty doctor on August 9, and was arrested by Kolkata Police on August 10. The brutal incident ignited a wave of fury and protests across the country, with citizens demanding swift justice for the fallen doctor.

"This is not a rarest of rare case of crime. Sanjay Roy will be given life imprisonment. For section 66 and 103(1), Sanjay will recieve life imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand rupees. Under section 64, Sanjay will be given life imprisonment till the last day of his life," said Justice Anirban Das will giving the judgement.

Sanjay Roy was convicted on Saturday by Anirban Das, the additional district and sessions judge of the Sealdah court, 58 days after the in-camera trial began on November 11. Roy was found guilty under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to rape, as well as Sections 66 and 103(1) of the Act, which address penalties for murder and death. Section 103(1) allows for either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

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: Sanjay Roy is given life imprisonment my the Sealdah Court.In a landmark judgement, Kolkata’s Sealdah Court on Monday handed down life imprisonment to Sanjay Roy, the sole accused responsible for the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old, on-duty PGT doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Judge Anirban Das convicted Roy under the stringent Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Roy had raped and murdered the on duty doctor on August 9, and was arrested by Kolkata Police on August 10. The brutal incident ignited a wave of fury and protests across the country, with citizens demanding swift justice for the fallen doctor.

"This is not a rarest of rare case of crime. Sanjay Roy will be given life imprisonment. For section 66 and 103(1), Sanjay will recieve life imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand rupees. Under section 64, Sanjay will be given life imprisonment till the last day of his life," said Justice Anirban Das will giving the judgement.

Sanjay Roy was convicted on Saturday by Anirban Das, the additional district and sessions judge of the Sealdah court, 58 days after the in-camera trial began on November 11. Roy was found guilty under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to rape, as well as Sections 66 and 103(1) of the Act, which address penalties for murder and death. Section 103(1) allows for either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

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: Sanjay Roy is given life imprisonment my the Sealdah Court.​