The family of the 34-year-old doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College expressed their demand for justice over compensation, following the life imprisonment sentence handed to Sanjay Roy, the prime accused. Despite the West Bengal government being directed to pay the family ₹17 lakh in compensation, the victim’s relatives remain steadfast in their plea for justice.
“We don’t want compensation, we want justice,” the victim’s family said outside the Sealdah court on Monday, reiterating their desire for a more severe punishment. The court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment after convicting him for the rape and murder of the on-duty doctor at the state-run hospital.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das convicted the former civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police, Roy, on Saturday for the horrific crime committed on August 9, 2024. The postgraduate trainee doctor was found assaulted and murdered in a seminar room at the RG Kar hospital, which caused widespread public outrage and protests across the country. Das has said that it did not fall into the category of “rarest of rare,” as is usually sent to the courts for a capital punishment verdict.
The victim’s father was discontent with the sentence of life imprisonment. “We want the death penalty,” he stated, adding that their fight would continue in both the courts and on the streets.
Role of Kolkata Police and Chief Minister’s Comments
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacted sharply to the judgment, saying her government had insisted on the death penalty from day one. “If the case stayed with us, we would have ensured a death penalty long ago,” she said while speaking to media persons. Banerjee further added that the case was already transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation, as there had been allegations of mishandling by state officials. The Supreme Court intervened as there were complaints of a possible cover-up by the state government, and the CBI took over the investigation.
Despite the transfer, Mamata Banerjee expressed her dissatisfaction with the outcome, saying, “I’m not satisfied with the court’s order.” However, she acknowledged that the final decision lay with the judiciary.
Nationwide Protests and Public Outrage
Nationwide protests saw the case reignite debates over criminal justice systems and the handling of women’s affairs in India. The absolute brutality with which the victim was assailed and murdered stimulated calls for stricter legislation and protection for women, at least within public institutions.
Shortly after the murder, a series of allegations began to circulate about a cover-up by top state officials. The Supreme Court issued an interim order transferring the case into the hands of the CBI, which has since been investigating it.
As the case goes on to attract public attention, the victim’s family, activists, and political leaders are still seeking justice for the brutal crime perpetrated against the doctor. The aggravating circumstance of the sentence, as well as the role of the authorities in the case, continues to be an important point to discuss and deliberate on this case.