RG Kar: "It's Rape-Murder, Not Gang-Rape," CBI Tells Calcutta High Court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reiterated on Friday before the Calcutta High Court that the tragic incident involving a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was a case of rape and murder, not gang-rape, as the victim's family had feared. The CBI's statement comes after extensive investigations, relying on medical reports, input from multi-institutional medical boards, and advanced forensic techniques.

The incident, which occurred on August 4, 2024, resulted in the brutal rape and murder of a Post-Graduate Trainee (PGT) doctor at RG Kar Medical College. In January 2025, the trial concluded, with the convict, Sanjay Roy, being sentenced to life imprisonment for the heinous crime.

Dissatisfied with both the verdict and the course of the investigation, the victim's family appealed to the Supreme Court for further inquiry. Earlier, the apex court had directed the family to first seek redressal from the Calcutta High Court. In response to the family's concerns, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court sought clarifications from the CBI on the following key points:

1. HC: Was a DNA test conducted on one person or multiple individuals?
CBI: A DNA test was conducted on a single individual.
2. HC: Has the agency ruled out gang-rape?
CBI: Based on medical reports, the findings of multiple medical boards, and a thorough investigation, we have concluded that the case pertains to rape and murder, and not gang-rape.
3. HC: What is the CBI investigating now?
CBI: We are currently investigating allegations of evidence tampering and the possibility of a larger conspiracy.
4. HC: Is there a timeline for when the investigation will conclude?
CBI: It's difficult to provide a definitive timeline at this moment.
Although the CBI has confirmed the case as a rape and murder, the agency continues to probe the allegations of a wider conspiracy and the destruction of critical evidence.

Case Timeline and Court Orders
The Calcutta High Court had transferred the case to the CBI on August 14, 2024, after the Kolkata Police had arrested Sanjay Roy within 10 hours of the crime being reported. Following the handover, the CBI launched an in-depth investigation, which included forensic analyses, witness testimonies, and an examination of relevant CCTV footage.
The Sealdah Trial Court, in its judgment, affirmed the conclusions of the CBI’s investigation. Justice Anirban Das, who presided over the trial, stated that the nature of the injuries on the victim's body indicated that the assault was committed by a single person. In the judgment, Justice Das noted:
“…The nature of the injuries found on the body of the victim also proves that the insertion was done by a single person and in the same transaction. There was no evidence of severe multiple penetrations, which is the sine qua non for any incident of gang-rape. The evidence I have discussed is sufficient to establish that the victim was raped by a single person, and there is no evidence to support the claim of gang-rape.”

Legal Proceedings and Verdict
The trial, conducted behind closed doors (in-camera), ultimately led to the conviction of Sanjay Roy, who was charged under the following sections of the BNS Act:
* Section 64: Punishment for Rape
* Section 66: Punishment for Causing Death
* Section 103(1): Punishment for Murder

The Calcutta High Court has now directed the CBI to submit the case diary that the Kolkata Police had initially handed over to them, along with a detailed list of witnesses who were interviewed during the investigation. While the investigation into the core case is considered closed, the CBI's ongoing inquiries into allegations of evidence destruction and potential conspiracy is yet to unfold.​