Kabita Sarkar, a 52-year-old lawyer with 25 years of experience, has been appointed by the Sealdah court to defend Sanjoy Roy, the accused in the RG Kar rape-murder case, after other lawyers refused to take the case.
Sarkar graduated from Hooghly Mohsin College with a degree in law and started her career at the Alipore court, initially focusing on civil cases. She transitioned to criminal law as a SALSA lawyer in February 2023 and moved to Sealdah court in June 2023.
Sarkar is committed to justice through court trials rather than pre-trial judgments and believes in the right of every individual to a fair trial. She has requested her senior, Sourav Banerjee, to assist her in the case and upholds the principle of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Sarkar opposes the death penalty, favoring life imprisonment as the harshest punishment. She believes offenders should be given the opportunity to reflect on their actions and potentially rehabilitate.
On August 9, 2024, a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College, sparking national outrage. Sanjoy Roy, a hospital staff member, allegedly attacked the victim while she was alone in the seminar hall. The CBI is leading a detailed investigation, with autopsy reports revealing horrifying details of the crime.
The CBI’s psychoanalytic profile of Sanjoy Roy, the prime suspect, portrays him as a sexual pervert with animal instincts. Analysts noted his emotional detachment during interviews about the crime. Although the CBI confirmed Roy’s presence at the scene through scientific evidence, DNA test results have yet to be disclosed. The CBI is also considering a psychological autopsy as part of the investigation. (The victim’s identity is protected under Supreme Court guidelines for sexual assault cases).
