RG Kar Rape-Murder Case: Why Sanjoy Roy Was Not Given Capital Punishment

During the proceedings, the CBI lawyer described the crime as heinous and urged the court to impose the death penalty to uphold public trust in the justice system.

A member of 'Abhaya Mancha' during a protest as Sanjay Roy, accused in the alleged rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, is produced at a Kolkata court on the day of the verdict, in Kolkata, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Source : PTI

Sanjay Roy, convicted of the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was sentenced to 'life imprisonment till death' by the Additional District and Sessions Court in Sealdah on Monday. Judge Anirban Das delivered the verdict under Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).  

Despite public outrage and demands for capital punishment, the court ruled that the case did not meet the "rarest of the rare" criteria, as argued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).  The judge said that the case did not fall into the “rarest of rare” category.

#WATCH | Advocate Rehman says, "Additional Judge of Sessions court, Sealdah has sentenced life imprisonment till death to Sanjay Roy. The court directed the state government to give compensation of Rs 17 lakhs to the victim's family. CBI had demanded capital punishment for the… pic.twitter.com/fBl7fxEPIt

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During the proceedings, the CBI lawyer described the crime as heinous and urged the court to impose the death penalty to uphold public trust in the justice system. "This is a case which comes under the rarest of rare category. The maximum punishment, which is the death penalty, should be awarded to Roy to maintain people's faith in society," the CBI counsel argued.

READ | 'We Don't Want Compensation, But Justice': RG Kar Victim’s Family After Life Imprisonment To Sanjay Roy  

Roy’s defence lawyer contended that the prosecution had failed to prove that Roy was beyond reform. "We pray for any punishment other than the death penalty," the defence lawyer stated, citing previous cases where higher courts commuted death sentences to life imprisonment.  

The lawyer representing the victim's parents emphasized the breach of trust, arguing that Roy, a civic volunteer responsible for hospital security, had exploited his position to commit the crime. They pleaded for the maximum punishment, highlighting the severity of the betrayal and the impact on the victim’s family.

Case Overview  

The RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, which occurred in August 2024, triggered nationwide outrage and protests, with citizens demanding justice for the on-duty doctor who fell victim to the heinous crime. The case became a pivotal moment in the discourse on workplace safety for medical professionals, eventually reaching the Supreme Court.  

The incident led to widespread protests across Kolkata and other parts of the country, compelling the Calcutta High Court to transfer the investigation from the West Bengal CID to the CBI. The High Court's decision was influenced by public demands for a thorough and impartial investigation.  

The case even drew the attention of the Supreme Court, which took suo moto cognizance to frame guidelines for the workplace safety of doctors and monitor the investigation's progress.  

Investigations And Allegations 

Initially, the West Bengal CID had arrested Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, as the prime accused in the case. However, concerns about the handling of the case arose when the jurisdictional police station registered the incident as an "unnatural death," suggesting the victim may have committed suicide. Allegations of collusion between the police and former principal Sandip Ghosh further fueled public anger.  

The Calcutta High Court ordered a separate investigation into the alleged malfeasance and corruption by Sandip Ghosh, as well as the conduct of the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the jurisdictional police station. The principal and the OC were accused of obstructing justice, but the CBI's inability to file a timely chargesheet led to their release on bail.  

Chargesheet And Trial  

Sanjoy Roy remained the sole accused against whom the CBI could file a chargesheet. Following a detailed trial, Roy was convicted under Sections 64, 66, and 103(1) of the BNS. However, the court concluded that the case did not meet the criteria for the "rarest of the rare," sentencing Roy to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.