Kolkata, January 20, 2025 &mdash; Sanjay Roy, the prime accused in the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The verdict was delivered by Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das, who declined to impose the death penalty, citing that the crime did not meet the "rarest of rare" standard required for capital punishment.
The judge convicted Roy on January 18 after a 57-day in-camera trial, reserving the sentencing for January 20. The case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sought the death penalty for Roy; however, the Court determined life imprisonment was appropriate.
The incident, which occurred on August 9, 2024, shook the nation. The victim, a junior doctor, was found raped and murdered in the seminar hall of the State-run RG Kar Medical College. Her death triggered nationwide protests by medical professionals demanding stricter laws and workplace safety measures.
Roy, a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, was arrested the day after the incident. The Calcutta High Court later transferred the case to the CBI for an impartial probe. The trial commenced on November 12, 2024, and concluded on January 9, 2025.
The Court also directed the West Bengal government to provide ₹17 lakh as compensation to the victim's family, recognizing the profound loss they suffered.
The case revealed serious lapses in institutional accountability. Former RG Kar principal Sandeep Ghosh and police officer Abhijeet Mondal were also implicated for attempting to destroy evidence but were granted default bail due to procedural delays by the CBI. Dr. Ghosh remains in custody for unrelated financial irregularities.
In the wake of the incident, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of workplace safety for medical professionals and gender-based violence. It established a National Task Force (NTF) to address these systemic issues. The NTF&rsquo;s findings, submitted in November 2024, have been pivotal in initiating reforms aimed at safeguarding medical professionals across the country.
This case remains a landmark in highlighting the need for robust institutional and legal protections for vulnerable professionals.
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Kolkata court premises and accused Sanjay Roy

Court rules out "rarest of rare" case; no capital punishment

Life Term for Kolkata Rape-Murder Accused Sanjay Roy

Court rules out "rarest of rare" case; no capital punishment

January 20, 2025 | 16:33 IST