Sealdah Criminal Court, Kolkata: On 20-01-2025, Anirban Das, J., sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 on the convict and stated that an additional five months of imprisonment would be imposed upon non-payment of the fine. The Court held that the case did not fall under the category of ‘rarest of the rare’ cases. The Court also directed the State to provide Rs 17 Lakhs as compensation to the family of the deceased victim. On 18-01-2025, the Court had found Sanjay guilty of offences under Sections 64, 66, 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Background
On 9-08-2024, a thirty-one-year-old postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata who was on a thirty-six-hour duty shift was murdered and allegedly raped inside the seminar room of the hospital.
Writ petitions were instituted before the Calcutta High Court seeking among other things, a court-monitored investigation of the crime and the conduct of the hospital authorities, including the role of the principal of the medical college and other officials by a special team of investigating officers.
It has been alleged that the parents of the deceased were initially informed that their daughter had committed suicide; they were permitted to see the dead body after several hours and a first information report regarding the murder was registered belatedly by the police after several hours.
By its order dated 13-08-2024, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Following the incident, agitations and protests were called by doctors’ associations, student bodies and civic groups across the country. On the eve of Independence Day, several areas in Kolkata saw protests spurred by the ‘Reclaim the Night’ campaign. At 12.30 am on 15-08-2024 when a protest was underway at the hospital, a large mob assembled at the premises of the RG Kar Medical College Hospital and vandalized the Emergency Ward and other departments of the hospital. Following the acts of wanton destruction and vandalism, the Indian Medical Association (‘IMA’) called for a nationwide withdrawal of medical services, except emergency services, for twenty-four hours on 17-08- 2024.
Consequently, suo motu cognizance was taken by the Calcutta High Court, wherein the State was directed to submit an affidavit with photographs to confirm that the crime scene remained intact and secured along with an interim report by 21-08-2024.
The former College Principal Dr Sandip Ghosh challenged the Calcutta High Court’s order transferring the corruption case to CBI before the Supreme Court. However, it was dismissed.
In the case In re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in R.G. KAR medical college and hospital, Kolkata and related issues 2024 SCC OnLine SC 2056, the Supreme Court ordered constitution of National Task Force to give recommendations on modalities ensuring safety at workplace.
In the criminal proceedings, the former principal Sandip Ghosh and police officer Abijit Mondal were granted bail by a Calcutta District Court.
Source: Press
