RG Kar Verdict Shortly, 162 days since the doctor rape & murder; Will Sanjay Roy Be Held Guilty?

The first verdict in the RG Kar case is expected in the second half of Saturday, 162 days since the brutal rape and murder of a 31 year old PGT medical student on August 9. Sealdah Court judge justice Anirban Das is expected to pronounce the verdict, if the accused is guilty or not.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been probing the matter since August 13 after Calcutta High Court handed over the case to them following doctor’s protests against alleged mishandling of the case by Kolkata Police. However, the main accused Sanjoy Roy, arrested by Kolkata Police within 10 hours of the incident, has also been identified by CBI as the sole accused who had perpetrated the heinous crime.

CBI had filed the first charge sheet in the case on October 7, relying on the statements made by over 120 witnesses, post mortem reports, forensic analysis, polygraph tests to conclude that Sanjay Roy indeed has committed the crime. During the 66 days of in camera trial, CBI has also argued highlighting the DNA tests of swap samples collected from the victim’s body which had matched with Sanjay. According to CBI during the incident, the victim had struggled and fought back leading to injuries on the body of Sanjay, again, corroborated with DNA tests. While Sanjay had undergone the layered voice analysis (LVA), in other words, lie detector tests, but he had later refused a consent to narco test.

Sanjay’s Bluetooth earphone has been a crucial link that had helped Kolkata police to crack the case within 10 hours. During his exit that Bluetooth earphone was missing from his neck, stoking first suspicion on him. CBI in its charge sheet had mentioned about the Bluetooth device along with blood samples found on the pair or jeans and shoes of Sanjay, matching with that of the victim.

In the course of investigation, the viscera samples were re-examined by CFSL outside Kolkata, in their Chandigarh and New Delhi laboratories for multiple opinions. Eventually, CBI had formed a multi institutional medical board (MIMB) under doctors from AIIMS New Delhi and other Central Government Hospitals for larger probity amidst high decibel protest questioning the role of Kolkata police and amidst suspicion of deliberate destruction of evidences. But according to the findings of MIMB, there were no inconsistencies in post mortem report or the inquest report report. The board too had concluded that the victim had died due to strangulation and smothering, that the victim had suffered sexual assault including forceful penetration into her vagina.

Her spectacles were broken during the struggle, and she was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts, while injury marks were found on her neck and lips. CBI has sought highest punishment for Sanjay, calling it a “rarest of a rare” case.

Timeline of the RG Kar Case

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

* August 10, 2024: Civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy is arrested.

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

* August 14, 2024: A CBI team comprising 25 members was formed to investigate the case.

 
* August 15, Post midnight- A mob stormed into RG Kar and vandalised the emergency department.

* August 18, 2024: Supreme Court took suo Moto cognisance of the matter and listed the case for August 20.

* August 20, 2024: Supreme Court heard the case for the first time and formed a 10 member task force to formulate a national roadmap for safety and security of doctors.

* August 24, 2024: Accused Sanjay Roy underwent lie-detection tests along with six others.

* September 3, 2024: Former Principal of RG Kar Sandip Ghosh was arrested by CBI in the alleged corruption case, later also shown arrested in the rape and murder case.

* September 15, 2024: Tala Police Station OC Abhijit Mondal was arrested by CBI in connection with the rape and murder of the medical student.

* October 7, 2024: The CBI files its charge sheet, naming Sanjoy Roy as the prime accused.

* November 4, 2024: Charges are framed against Sanjoy Roy at Sealdah Court.

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

* January 9, 2025: The trial concludes; judgment will be delivered on January 18, 2025.