The Sealdah court in Kolkata sentenced 33-year-old Sanjay Roy, to life imprisonment till death for the murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor Moumita in August 2024. The court also imposes a fine of Rs 50,000. The West Bengal government has been asked by the court to compensate the post graduate trainee doctor’s family of ₹17 Lakhs.
The Sealdah court stated that it was not the “rarest of rare crimes”.
Sanjay Roy, the man who raped and murdered an on-duty doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has been sentenced after being convicted last week. The Civil and Criminal court delivered its verdict after a legal battle over the shocking crime that had taken place on August 9, 2024. On Monday, as the sentencing hearing continued, Roy, the erstwhile civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, continued to say that he was being framed.
During the sentencing, Sanjay Roy’s lawyer said, “Even if it is a rarest of rare case, there should be scope for reformation. The court has to show why the convict is not worth reformation or rehabilitation… The public prosecutor has to present evidence and give reasons why the person is not worth reformation and should be completely eliminated from society…”
The victim’s family lawyer said, “I want death sentence as maximum punishment…”
The additional district and sessions judge of Sealdah court, Anirban Das, pronounced Roy guilty of the brutal assault and murder of the trainee doctor in a case that had captivated the city. During the sentencing, Roy was adamant that he had not committed the crime, expressing disbelief at the verdict. “I have not done anything, yet I have been held guilty,” Roy told the court, reiterating his claims of being wrongfully accused.
Found guilty of sexually assaulting the 31-year-old trainee doctor and throttling her to death, Sanjay Roy was convicted by the judge under Sections 64, 66 and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 64 (rape) of the BNS entails a punishment of not less than 10 years and can go up to life term.
CBI seeks Death Sentence
The prosecution, however, argued that the crime fell into the “rarest of rare” category, making Roy eligible for the death penalty. “This was an atrocious crime,” the prosecution said, pointing out that the doctor was at her duty, serving as a medical professional in a government hospital. “She was a meritorious student, and her death represents a significant loss for society,” they added, urging the court to impose the harshest penalty.
The case has caught public attention with the brutality of the crime and the subsequent probe. The CBI had taken over the investigation after the preliminary police probe was questioned by the victim’s family, who said that the probe was not deep enough. The parents of the deceased doctor complained that the probe by the CBI was also not up to the mark and that it did not identify or arrest other accused in the crime. They even complained that perhaps the real depths of the conspiracy may not have come to light.
Sanjay Roy’s Defense and Controversial Claims
During the entire trial, Roy’s defense attorneys maintained that he was not guilty of killing the doctor and that he was forced to confess to the crime. The fact that Roy had raised claims of being framed elicited a reaction from the court since the details of the investigation all pointed to him as the lone culprit. Yet despite the evidence stacked against him, Roy maintained that his confession had been coerced.
The Roy murder conviction has brought closure to the family of the victim, but the case is still in public debate. The sentencing comes after months of legal proceedings, which involved rigorous scrutiny of evidence, testimony by witnesses, and the handling of the case by concerned authorities.
Impact of RG Kar Murder Case
The tragic loss of the young doctor at RG Kar Medical College has left a profound impact on the community, raising concerns about safety for medical professionals working in high-stress environments. It has also led to discussions about the broader issues of violence against women and professionals working in critical sectors.
The crime took place on the night of 9 August, when the woman, who was a junior doctor at the city’s RG Kar Medical College, had gone to a seminar room to rest after a grueling 36-hour shift.
