Sanjay Roy, convicted in the rape-murder case that took place in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Along with this, a fine of Rs 50 thousand has also been imposed. Additional District and Sessions Judge Anirban Das said that the convict is given imprisonment till death. This is not the rarest of rare cases. Therefore the criminal is being sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Sealdah Court’s decision comes after 164 days in this heinous incident that took place on August 9 last year. The court has given its verdict holding Sanjay Roy guilty under sections 64, 66 and 103 (1) of the Indian Justice Code. Under these sections, there is a provision for maximum death sentence or life imprisonment for the criminal. But the judge did not consider it as the rarest of rare case and gave him life imprisonment.
Know date-by-date what happened in the Kolkata incident…
August 9, 2024: The body of a post-graduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall on the third floor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. She was brutally murdered after being raped. Everyone was shocked to see the dead body of the victim.
August 10, 2024: Kolkata Police arrested its civic volunteer Sanjay Roy on charges of rape and murder of the victim. He was sleeping drunk in the camp built in the hospital premises.
August 12, 2024: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the house of the deceased doctor. Told Kolkata Police that they have to solve the case within a week otherwise they will hand over the investigation to CBI.
In view of this heinous incident, protests started across the country. The junior doctor sat on strike. Hospital work came to a halt everywhere. Sandeep Ghosh, Principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, resigned amid protests by junior doctors. A few hours later, the government shifted him to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.
August 13, 2024: Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation of this case to CBI. The court also asked Sandeep Ghosh to go on long leave. After the court order, a CBI team reached Kolkata from Delhi. Kolkata Police handed over Sanjay Roy to CBI custody.
August 14, 2024: Lakhs of people took to the streets in West Bengal as part of the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest demanding women’s safety. Amid the protests, the mob stormed the lock and vandalized parts of the medical college and hospital.
August 17, 2024: IMA called for closure of health services across the country for 24 hours.
Also read: Kolkata scandal: Victim’s parents shocked over Sanjay Roy’s life imprisonment, refused to accept compensation of Rs 17 lakh
August 18, 2024: The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of this matter.
August 20, 2024: The Supreme Court pulled up the West Bengal government for the delay in registering the FIR and allowing thousands of miscreants to vandalize the hospital. The court constituted a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to prepare protocols to ensure the safety of doctors and health workers. Also ordered the deployment of CISF in the hospital to create an environment where doctors can return to work.
August 21, 2024: CISF took over the security of the medical college and hospital. Kolkata Police suspended three police officers in connection with the vandalism at the hospital on August 14.
August 27, 2024: Student organization ‘Chhatra Samaj’ took out a march to the State Secretariat Nabanna demanding the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee. After being stopped midway, the workers clashed with the police, in which many people were injured.
September 2, 2024: CBI arrested Sandeep Ghosh in connection with allegations of financial fraud in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
September 10, 2024: Junior doctors started a protest outside Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the state health department in Salt Lake, while their work strike continued.
September 14, 2024: CBI accused Sandeep Ghosh of delaying registration of FIR and tampering with evidence in the rape and murder of the doctor. The investigating agency also arrested Tala police station in-charge Abhijeet Mandal in the same case.
September 16, 2024: Agitating junior doctors met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as protests paralyzed health services across West Bengal.
September 17, 2024: Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal was removed after the Chief Minister’s meeting with the agitating doctors. IPS officer Manoj Kumar Verma was appointed in his place. Director of Health Services (DHS) Debashish Halder, Director of Medical Education (DME) Kaustav Nayak and Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police’s Northern Division Abhishek Gupta were also removed.
September 19, 2024: Junior doctors announced withdrawal of the agitation.
Also read: Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Life imprisonment to Sanjay Roy, court did not accept rarest of rare case.
October 6, 2024: The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front began a fast unto death at the Esplanade, urging the government to fulfill their remaining demands and ensure justice for their deceased colleagues.
October 7, 2024: CBI filed charge sheet against Sanjay Roy in Sealdah Court.
October 21, 2024: Junior doctors ended their 17-day fast after meeting Mamata Banerjee at State Secretariat Nabanna.
November 12, 2024: The hearing started in closed room in Sealdah Court.
November 29, 2024: CBI filed a 125-page charge sheet in the case of financial irregularities. Sandeep Ghosh was made an accused in this.
December 13, 2024: Sandeep Ghosh and Abhijeet Mandal got bail in the case related to tampering of evidence, delay in registering FIR as CBI failed to file charge sheet against them within the mandatory period of 90 days.
January 9, 2025: The hearing of the rape and murder case was completed in Sealdah Court.
January 18, 2025: The court convicted Sanjay Roy under sections 64 (rape), 66 (causing death) and 103 (1) (murder) of the Indian Justice Code (BNS).
Also read: Court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment under these sections in Kolkata rape-murder case
January 20, 2025: Sealdah Court sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisonment till death. Refused to accept this case as rarest of rare. The state was directed to pay a compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the family of the deceased doctor. But the family refused to take the money.
