A CBI court on Monday sentenced civic volunteer Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment until death and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 for the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August 2024. Roy was convicted on Saturday, January 18, with the judgment being pronounced by Judge Anirban Das of the Sealdah court.

“This is not a case of the rarest of the rare,” the judge remarked while delivering the sentence. “Therefore, I am sentencing you to imprisonment for the remainder of your life.”

The court also directed the state government to pay a compensation of ₹17 lakh to the victim's family in light of the tragic incident. However, the family refused to accept the compensation.

Convict Maintains Innocence

During the sentencing hearing, Sanjay Roy pleaded innocence, claiming he was framed and denied a fair opportunity to defend himself. Addressing the court, he said, “I have been falsely implicated. I always wear a Rudraksha chain, and if I had committed the crime, it would have been broken at the crime scene. I was forced to sign papers and was not allowed to present my case properly.”

Prosecution Demands Death Penalty

The CBI prosecution sought the death penalty for Roy, arguing that the crime constituted a "rarest of the rare" case. The CBI lawyer described the victim as a brilliant student and an asset to society, emphasizing the profound impact of the crime on the community.

“This heinous act has shaken society. If even doctors are not safe, it raises questions about the security of ordinary citizens. Only the death penalty can restore faith in the justice system,” the prosecutor argued.

Roy was charged under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 64 (rape), Section 66 (punishment for causing death), and Section 103 (murder).

The Case

The incident occurred on August 9, 2024, when the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Investigators determined that she had been raped and then murdered.

Roy was apprehended the following day after being identified as the suspect. Kolkata Police linked him to the crime using a Bluetooth earphone found at the scene, which matched Roy’s appearance in CCTV footage from the hospital.

The case triggered nationwide protests and widespread outrage, with thousands demanding swift justice for the victim.

The court’s verdict has brought closure to a case that deeply shocked the nation, though questions about the safety of professionals in their workplaces remain a pressing concern.